BENGALURU : Caste equations seem to have undergone a major change in this Lok Sabha elections as communities like Lambani, Bhovi, SC (left) and Kadu Golla may back BJP for their own reasons.
The turning point was former prime minister HD Deve Gowda’s speech on the floor of the Rajya Sabha promising the Scheduled Tribe tag for Kadu Gollas, which is considered a masterstroke as the video of his speech went viral on social media circuits.
Taking advantage, Gowda is now reiterating it during his campaign speeches and associations representing these communities too have responded by openly throwing their weight behind the NDA candidates. This shift could have its effect especially in Tumakuru and Chitradurga Lok Sabha constituencies.
Lambanis are upset with the Siddaramaiah cabinet not giving representation to their community in the cabinet. “We might have voted for Congress in the Assembly polls, but we will choose BJP in the Lok Sabha elections,” said a community leader. They were averse to the previous BJP government led by then chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, which allegedly favoured the division of SC quota.
Star campaigner
Though Congress has given tickets to BN Chandrappa from Chitradurga and KV Gowtham from Kolar, both from SC (left), there is an undercurrent of anger as Food and Civil Supplies Minister KH Muniyappa, who represented Kolar seven times, has not been made the star campaigner.
As for the Vokkaliga votes, Congress had managed an increase of 4-5 per cent in the Assembly polls and it is to be seen whether the Lok Sabha elections will reflect the same trend. “But during the Assembly polls, Vokkaligas backed Congress as DK Shivakumar was being projected as a chief ministerial candidate,” said a Congress leader from the community.
Whether Veerashaiva Lingayats rally behind BJP for the sake of former chief minister BS Yediyurappa and his son BY Vijayendra is to be seen. While Kurubas are likely to back Congress for Siddaramaiah’s sake, Muslims have no option but to support the Grand Old Party as they have no option with JDS forging an alliance with BJP, pointed out a political analyst.