Rohini Swamy | Edited by Ganesh Kumar Radha Udayakumar
Bengaluru, September 19, 2017 | UPDATED 14:28 IST
Yeddyurappa officially announced that he would contest from North Karnataka, home to many members of the largest vote bank in Karnataka politics - the Lingayats.
Karnataka CM 
Siddaramaiah's strategy to woo the Lingayat community by promising them special status has definitely hurt the BJP badly.
Karnataka BJP president B S Yeddyurappa has challenged Siddaramaiah to try and contest the Assembly polls from north Karnataka.
North Karnataka is home to many members of the Lingayat community, who represent the biggest vote bank in Karnataka politics.
Yeddyurappa officially announced that he would contest from North Karnataka.
"The final decision has not been taken yet. But it is certain that I will be contesting from north Karnataka. We will welcome Siddaramaiah if he also wants to contest from North Karnataka," said Yeddyurappa.
"He has been trying to divide the Lingayats to benefit during elections, but his attempt will be unfruitful as the BJP will come back to power," said Yeddyurappa.
LINGAYATS AND ELECTIONS
Historically, the Lingayats have largely voted for the BJP.
In the last Assembly elections, the Lingayat votes split because Yeddyurappa had floated his own party called the KJP. This had damaged the BJP's vote bank.
Only the polls will reveal whether Siddaramaiah's attempts to woo the Lingayats have borne fruit.
VIDEO: Ahead of the Karnataka Assembly polls, Siddaramiah's government recently launched a major social welfare scheme called the Indira Canteen. Watch to learn more.
