Karnataka CM B S Yediyurappa puts decision to include Veerashaiva-Lingayats in OBC list on hold

Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister B S Yediyurappa has temporarily put the decision to recommend granting other backward classes (OBC) status to the dominant Veerashaiva-Lingayat community on hold. The government may take a call on the community’s long-pending demand only after consulting the central leaders.

The issue was said to be on the agenda for Friday's cabinet meeting. However, minutes before attending the cabinet, Yediyurappa clarified that the decision will not be taken today. “I will discuss the matter with the central leaders during my visit to Delhi. My cabinet colleagues too have suggested the same,” he told reporters.

Politically influential Veerashaiva-Lingayats account for about 16-17% of the state’s population and form the BJP’s core support base. Yediyurappa belongs to this community. Leaders and pontiffs associated with the community's religious institutions have been pressing the state government to recommend to the Centre to bring them under the central list of other backward classes.


The decision, if taken, is likely to have far-reaching political consequences in Karnataka.

The state BJP government announced to set up a Karnataka Veerashaiva-Lingayat Development Corporation for the socio-economic growth of the community, just about a week ago. The CM set aside a hefty Rs 500 crore for the corporation. The development was seen as Yediyurappa’s attempt to reach out to the community amid speculations about the change of leadership in the state.