The prominent Lingayat community seers in Karnataka have put their support behind Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and advised state BJP leaders not to obstruct his administration.

According to reports, almost a dozen Lingayat seers have urged the BJP’s high brass to let BSY, as Yediyurappa is called, to stay as the state’s chief minister for another two years. It should be highlighted that the Karnataka Chief Minister is a member of the state’s powerful Lingayat community.

Disgruntled state BJP leaders have been told not to bother Yediyurappa until his time as Chief Minister expires, according to community seers. After BJP national General Secretary Arun Singh put a stop to all speculation about a leadership change in the state, the Lingayat seers issued a statement.

Following Arun Singh’s announcement, Yediyurappa stated that he will be in charge for the next two years. Under the banner of Shri Shadakshara Bruhanmatha, a group of 12 renowned seers said that Yediyurappa was the key reason for the BJP’s success in Karnataka. The seers stated that equating age with performance is an insult to a leader who has worked extremely hard for the party. They took serious note of a section of BJP politicians cornering Yediyurappa over his age.

“We seers feel that repeated silly remarks about his age annoy not only us but also the entire community which is upset with such meaningless remarks made by his own partymen,” the seers said.

The seers contended that those who raise the issue of age forget that it was Yediyurappa who worked day and night to make sure that the BJP crossed the 100-seat mark in Karnataka. “BJP would not cross 100 seats without his effort”.

He has been wholeheartedly accepted by the Lingayat community as its leader. If someone tries to remove him based on his age, the community will not tolerate it. “He should no longer be judged by his age,” the seers declared.

They further said that the Lingayats support the BJP solely because of Yediyurappa. Yediyurappa’s son BY Vijayendra, who is also a BJP vice-president, met various Lingayat seers under the pretence of a ‘courtesy call’ before the reports of a leadership transition were spread by the party’s top leaders.

Meanwhile, Arun Singh, the BJP’s Karnataka in-charge, will arrive in Bengaluru on June 16 for a three-day visit. He’ll meet with members of the state cabinet as well as several party MLAs.

A group of BJP MLAs in Karnataka had been openly demanding that the party’s top leadership provide them a platform to express their reservations over Yediyurappa’s management style.

It would be interesting to see what happens in Karnataka as Modi will be close to the cut off date in 2024 elections.