Community-based politics in Karnataka is in ferment like never before. Communities traditionally considered the vote banks of the Congress or BJP, are now reconsidering their choices with controversies like the Lingayat religion row, the question of internal reservation among the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Dalit discontent nationwide, tending to upset carefully worked out poll equations. While political pundits are predicting a tectonic shift in the preferences of the Lingayats-Veerashaivas who have been solidly backing the BJP in past elections, what could upset the ruling Congress’ calculations is a radical shift in the stance of the SC Madiga community which has a population of more than 1.5 crore in the state. A bitter feud between Madiga community pontiff Basavamurthy Madhara Chennaiah Swamy and Madiga leader and social welfare minister H. Anjaneya has even led to the formation of a new math which was inaugurated with much fanfare by Mr Anjaneya himself. SHIVAKUMAR G. MALAGI analyses the currents at work in Dalit politics where the Congress can no longer take the Dalit vote for granted as it has always done in the past.
What is proving to be a major worry for the Congress leadership is the BJP’s unabashed attempt to woo the Dalits after being dubbed a party of the ‘Brahmins- Banias’ for decades. And what has come as a big boon to them is the not so subdued political line adopted by Madiga pontiff Basavamurthy Madhara Chennaiah Swamy who has hardly concealed his saffron tilt. Confirming this was the recent meeting of BJP national president Mr Amit Shah with the pontiff in Chitradurga. Party state president B.S. Yeddyurappa has not been lagging behind in his Dalit outreach efforts visiting the homes of Dalit families to share food with them and spending time in Dalit colonies.
But the Madigas can’t be won over so easily - in fact, sources in the Madiga math claimed that the Swamy has asked Mr Shah to implement the controversial Justice A.G. Sadashiva report which will ensure them internal reservation in the SC quota. Another condition put forth by the seer-BJP tickets should be given to at least12-13 Madiga leaders in the assembly polls. “We had a long and fruitful discussion with Amit Shah," was all the source would say on whether a deal had been struck.
In a state where caste weighs heavily on voters’ minds when they make the trek to the polling booth, the Madigas can make or break the fortunes of any party hoping to capture power. Madhara Chennaiah Swamy’s math holds sway over the community, spread across districts like Ballari, Koppal, Raichur Chitradurga and Davanagere among others. In the 36 assembly seats reserved for SC candidates in Karnataka, the Madigas are a dominant force in about 20 seats, apart from being a crucial factor in several other general category constituencies.
IRKED
What has irked the Madigas is the fact that their demand for internal reservation in the SC quota, has been kept in abeyance by the Congress government despite their numbers. Instead, the Siddaramaih government has tried to keep the Madigas in good stead by by setting up a Madiga development corporation but it has not worked to pacify the community with the infighting between the seer and Mr Anjaneya, only adding to the friction with the Congress. This is happening despite the fact that Kolar Congress MP and former Union Minister K.H. Muniyappa is an office-bearer of the math. Sensing an opportunity in this, the BJP is considering fielding Madara Chennaiah Swamy against Mr Anjaneya himself in his constituency- Holalkere- in Chitradurga.
Frustrated over the seer’s ‘leanings’ towards the RSS and BJP and not to be outdone, Mr Anjaneya set up a new math. Just a couple of days before the poll code of conduct came into force, the minister performed the bhoomi pooja for the construction of Matanga Bhavan at a cost of Rs 5 crore and inaugurated the Rs 1 crore Matanga Ashrama at Matanga Maharishi Seva Ashrama at Kondanayakanahalli in Hosapete taluk in Ballari. This parallel Madiga community math is named after Matanga Maharishi, a mythological figure.
Not stopping at this, the social welfare minister has been harping on how the Madigas have benefited during Congress rule because of the largesse of CM Siddaramaiah which he claims, has not happened in the past 70 years. “Karnataka is the only state to give such priority to Madigas, considered the least developed in the country", said Mr Anjaneya while inaugurating the new math.
So the big Madiga split is happening and the big question is whether it will spoil Congress prospects in constituencies in central and north Karnataka? Sources close to Madara Chennaiah Swamy justify the seer’s saffron leanings wondering how many times the CM had come and met the pontiff-something Amit Shah took pains to do travelling all the way from Delhi. "We don’t need to give any message to the people, they know what to do,” said a source.
Karnataka’s Yogi
Chennaiah Swamy is reluctant to make the big plunge into electoral politics but sources say he will give his blessings to whoever contests against his rival, Mr Anjaneya. There is even talk that the BJP may consider giving him a ticket in the 2019 parliamentary polls, with parallels being drawn between him and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath.
In Assembly polls where the shift of a few thousand votes could make all the difference between victory and defeat, the Madigas could change the equations in many a constituency and maybe in state politics on the whole. And more so when a pontiff, revered by millions and bonded with them by ties of loyalty and caste, decides to cast his lot with a particular political party. Can the Congress afford to lose the votes of the Madigas or a chunk of them in an election which has never been contested so fiercely before? Or will the Madigas, spurred by the benefits doled out to them by the Congress government, cast their lot with the ruling party again? This is one poll where no one knows where the Madiga’s heart lies and that’s what is making every party rush to woo the community like never before.
