BBMP polls: Ashok, BSY at war over BBMP candidate choice, lingayats fume

Bengaluru: The community cauldron is simmering in the BJP with the Lingayats reportedly taking affront to former deputy CM and Vokkaliga strongman R. Ashok’s denial of a BBMP poll ticket to one of their community.

While BJP national president B.S. Yeddyurappa stepped in to douse the fire, it remains to be seen if the discontent in the party over seat distribution will disappear so easily. It started with Rudresh a BJP worker from Hemmigepura in the city approaching Mr Ashok with a request for a party ticket for the polls.

When Mr Ashok declined, Mr Rudresh reminded him of the promise made by Mr Yeddyurappa and Union law minister, D.V. Sadananda Gowda that he would be given a ticket. “Can you get a ticket if you go to Tirupati (Timmappa)?” was Mr Ashok’s reported reply. Sources said the BJP’s official candidate, an Ashok loyalist spoke ill of Mr Yeddyurappa, a top Lingayat leader.

Following this, Lingayat organisations held a protest in Hemmigepura. Mr Rudresh claimed that Mr Ashok even insulted Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he would not give him a ticket even if Modi made the request. Mr Ashok then got Vagish Kumar, an officebearer of All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha to give him a clean chit.

This has further angered Veerashaiva leaders who on Friday stated that only state president N. Thippanna would give the official version of the Mahasabha. The Mahasabha has decided to remain neutral on this issue.

Meanwhile, Mr Yeddyurappa who met Mr Rudresh on Friday told him to bury the hatchet as it may hamper the party's prospects in the elections. Mr Yeddyurappa reportedly told the party leaders that it was not fair for Mr Ashok and his supporters to make such remarks.

Will Lingayats shift their support because of this? “They will keep supporting BJP because they don’t like Mr Siddaramaiah and his government for sidelining them,” a community leader said.