All mutts supporting BJP after quota rejig; will win over 130 seats: Arun Singh

The latest quota rejig in Karnataka was social engineering with which BJP has ensured support of all religious mutts in the state, party general secretary Arun Singh has said. He claimed that the party will win more than 130 seats in the May 10 assembly polls.

A day after BJP announced its first list of candidates, the party's Karnataka in-charge claimed that BJP has "tied senior Congress leaders DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah to their respective constituencies by fielding its senior leaders".

BJP has fielded revenue minister R Ashoka against state Congress unit chief DK Shivakumar from Kanakapura and housing minister V Somanna against former chief minister Siddaramaiah in Varuna. Both Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah are chief ministerial aspirants in case Congress wins the assembly polls and are contesting from seats considered safe for them.


Talking about quota rejig in Karnataka, Singh said BJP has given 2% additional reservation to both Lingayats and Vokkaligas by ending "unconstitutional" 4% reservation to Muslims. "BJP has done social engineering by raising reservation for SCs, STs and giving 2% reservation each to Lingayats and Vokkaligas. It has been praised by mutt swamis (spiritual heads) in Karnataka. Now, all mutts are with BJP and have given their blessings to the party," Singh told ET.

There are several hundred mutts of various castes and sub-castes in Karnataka, including those of Lingayats, Vokkaligas, Kurubas, Valmikis, Nayakas and Madigas. They are perceived to be influential and powerful in their respective caste groupings. During the election season, leaders from across the parties visit these mutts to seek support.

The state hasn't repeated its incumbent government in more than three decades, but Singh claimed BJP "will win more than 130 seats".

According to Singh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity, welfare schemes of BJP governments both at the Centre and state and party's committed cadre are its biggest strength in the polls.