Lingayat voters in dilemma after Shettar’s BJP exit

Hubballi: Many voters, particularly from the Lingayat community, who have been supporting the BJP over the years in Hubballi-Dharwad Central constituency are now in a dilemma. They are facing a peculiar situation this time around after the exit of former chief minister Jagadish Shettar from the BJP. They are confused about supporting Congress candidate Shettar or BJP candidate Mahesh Tenginkai openly.
Most Lingayat leaders in the constituency who had a good rapport with Shettar and were loyal to the BJP are now avoiding both Shettar and Tenginakai. When either of them visits their areas, they go ‘out of station’ to avoid facing the ire from both camps. If they get repeated calls, they simply avoid them for the moment and call back after a few hours or a day. Only a few voters are now accessible to both candidates.
Sharing the situation with TOI, Lingaraj Dharwad Shettar, joint secretary, Hubballi city unit, Karnataka Rajya Banajiga Samaj Kshemabhivruddhi Sangha, said that it has been difficult for Banajigas as both leading candidates belong to Banajiga community, as subsect of Lingayats.
“Most Banajigas were supporting Shettar and BJP since 1994. Most of us are relatives of both leaders. This time, Shettar and BJP have become opponents. When Tenginakai’s supporters visited our colony, many remained away saying they were ‘out of station’. As I am president of Shreya Park Residents Welfare Association, all candidates come seeking residents’ support and we have to be there,” he added.
Many Lingayat businessmen and professionals said they are embarrassed as they have been beneficiaries of both Shettar and BJP. “We had never thought of Shettar coming out of BJP. We feel guilty to avoid both, but it has become inevitable to show our loyalty to both Shettar and BJP,” they said.
Jagatika Lingayat Mahasabha member Lokesh Koravi said he doesn’t have any confusion. “As per Basavanna’s teachings, we welcome all guests, whether they are Lingayats or others. If the guests are either Shettar or Tenginakai, we just welcome them and offer water, juice or food. We just wish them good luck and we preserve out right of voting privately,” he added.