SHIVAMOGGA: The Ediga or Deevaru community will play a decisive role in the Shivamogga bypoll scheduled on November 3. The community that has sacrificed its land and homes to provide light to people’s lives through the Sharavathi power project, is being wooed ardently by political parties. The community is spread across the district with major concentration in Sagar, Hosanagar, Sorab and some parts of Tirthahalli taluks.
Being an Ediga, former CM Sarekoppa Bangarappa enjoyed their confidence throughout his political career, but failed in his last parliamentary elections in 2009. He was defeated by B Y Ragevendra, BJP candidate and son of former CM B S Yeddyurappa, by a margin of 53,000 votes.
S Bangarappa, who went hopping from one party to another in his political journey, joined BJP in 2004. He was instrumental in bringing two young Edigas – Haratalu Halappa and Belur Gopalakrishna, fielding them from Hosanagar and Sagar assembly constituencies, respectively. Both Halappa and Gopalakrishna won the elections.
On March 9, 2017, Kumar Bangarappa joined the BJP. It was Yeddyurappa who brought him into the party fold by assuring him a ticket for the assembly elections from Sorab in 2018. Yeddyurappa kept his promise, hence, it is now Kumar Bangarappa’s turn to work for the victory of BJP candidate B Y Raghavendra.
“When their political guru S Bangarappa deserted the BJP, both of them (Halappa and Gopalakrishna) stayed back. This was because of Yeddyurappa. This was how the BJP could gain support of the Ediga community. Halappa became minister in Yeddyurappa’s cabinet and thereafter there was no looking back. Now, this community is divided amongst the BJP, Congress and JD(S),” said a senior Congress leader.
Similarly, the number of leaders in the community has also increased. Now they have Kumar Bangarappa and Halappa in BJP, Kagodu Thimmappa in Congress and Madhu Bangarappa in JD(S).
Repeat of ’18 assembly polls?
It was a surprise result in the Sagar and Sorab assembly elections in 2018 which clearly indicated that BJP has garnered more support from this community. The victory of Kumar Bangarappa against his brother Madhu and Kagodu Thimmappa losing to Halappa in Sagar assembly constituency proved this point.
“The community even supported BJP’s Araga Jnanendra in Tirthahalli. Yeddyurappa has great confidence in Haratalu Halappa and Kumar Bangarappa. Hence, these two Ediga leaders will certainly make all efforts to organise the community votes for Ragavendra,” said a BJP leader.
Lingayats too in race
The Lingayat community too is backing their candidate BJP’s B Y Raghavendra. Shivamogga Rural assembly constituency, Shikaripura, Bhadravathi and some pockets in Sorab taluks have more percentage of Lingayat votes.
“Lingayats are more inclined towards BJP in the district, and the persistent personal attacks and criticism on Yeddyurappa by Congress and JD(S) leaders are pushing the community towards consolidation of the votes,” said a senior BJP leader from the community.