Lingayat

The pontiff put ‘Shiva Linga’ around Gandhi’s neck and put the three lines of 'Vibhuti' (ash) on his forehead horizontally as worn by the Lingayats, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee said in a statement.

In response to the claims, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai stated that his administration takes the seer's accusations "extremely seriously." The claim comes only days after BJP politician K S Eshwarappa resigned from his ministerial post on Saturday, after the suspected suicide of a contractor in a hotel room in Udupi on April 12.

The highly anticipated Basavaraj Bommai Cabinet will have 29 ministers. Interestingly, the much-debated deputy CM post will not be there in Bommai's Cabinet and BS Yediyurappa's son BY Vijayendra name does not feature in the list.
 

With Karnataka Cabinet expansion expected to take place in the coming week, over half a dozen ministerial aspirants lined up at Lingayat strongman BS Yediyurappa's house for lobbying. Within minutes, CM Basavaraj Bommai also rushed and downplayed the importance, saying that his visit was just to 'consult' his senior.

Did Yediyurappa suggest Basavaraj Bommai's name as next CM?

Experts say that BS Yediyurappa resignation from the Karnataka Chief Minister's post will definitely antagonize the dominant Lingayat community and the mutt seers who idolize him. 

On July 26, the BJP government will not only complete its two years in office but also see a stalwart BJP leader CM BS Yediyurappa step down. As soon as he dropped a hint of stepping down two days ago, a list of names are doing rounds to occupy his chair.
 

As confusion shrouds regarding CM BS Yediyurapp offering to resign, dozens of mutt seers warning BJP of facing the community's wrath are being asked to cooperate and leave it to the high command. The CM said despite the age factor going against him, he was allowed to continue by central leaders and expressed his gratitude.

Amidst rumours of replacing BS Yediyurappa as CM, not just BJP leaders but Congress leaders also have come in support of him saying he should be treated with utmost dignity for building the party and bringing the saffron party to power.
 

 Attacking the Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa-led government in Karnataka, he said there is an instability in the Karnataka state government for the last one year and it is hampering the administration.
 

Sounding a warning to Central BJP leadership in case they try to meddle with CM BS Yediyurappa and attempt to destabilise his administration, Lingayat seers including seers from Malnad region to which CM BS Yediyurappa belongs, have throw weight behind CM Yediyurappa. The warning comes weeks after Yediyurappa's son BY Vijayendra met seers of different mutts and sought their blessing amidst reports to unseat his father.
 

A Lingayat forum in Bengaluru has urged the BJP high command to take a decision to offer the seat of the Chief Minister only to a strong Lingayat candidate if the current CM, BS Yediyurappa is removed.

Eight-time MLA and Lingayat strongman from Bombay-Karnataka region, Belagavi, former minister Umesh Katti has reportedly expressed his desire to become Karnataka CM and not any minister in the Yediyurappa's Cabinet

A man in Gadag district, which is Lingayat hotbed, chose to change his religion and walk on the principles of Lingayat leader Basavanna. Dewan Sharief was ordained with Linga Deeksha and heads a mutt at Ron Taluk. He says he wants to foster peace between Hindus and Muslims

With senior Lingayat leader Shamanur Shivshankarappa objecting to MB Patil's candidacy for Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president’s post, and senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel speaking in favour of DK Shivakumar, the latter is likely to take on the reigns of the party in the state