Now caste politics takes centre stage

Yeddyurappa triggers confusion in the RSS causing the Sangh to be divided in various groups, high and low class Brahmin leaders and supporters

Now caste politics takes centre stage

Yeddyurappa triggers confusion in the RSS causing the sangh to be divided in various groups, high and low class Brahmin leaders and supporters

Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa's intention to show dominance with his Lingayat convention has triggered caste politics within the RSS in the state and the Sangh is divided between Lingayat and Brahmin, and the non-Lingayat groups are backing Brahmin leaders. MC Jayadev, national executive member of the RSS, is the top leader of the Sangh in Karnataka and his closeness with Yeddyurappa was an eyesore ever since the latter became Chief Minister in 2008.

Sidelined: MC Jayadev, RSS National Executive Committee was asked
not to intervene in the political affairs of the BJP. Pic/ Satish Badiger

He is also a Lingayat and the rumblings over the caste equation bonding the two snowballed after Jaydev apparently turned a blind eye to the CM's alleged corruption and nepotism, and this resulted in the former getting sidelined in the RSS. "Jayadev was in a position to overview the functioning of the government and he was the real mentor. However, at one point, there was a perception that he was misusing his mandate and shielding Yeddyurappa. And now the equations have been changed in the Sangh," said a source in the RSS.

While Jayadev's remains on the sidelines, the Pranth Pracharaks, Manghesh Bhende and Mukund are empowered to coordinate with the government on behalf of the RSS, and Jayadev has been requested no to intervene in the political affairs of the BJP. Bhende and Mukund are from the Brahmin community and are sympathetic towards the rebels led by Member of Parliament representing Bangalore (South) HN Anathkumar, a fellow Brahmin. Interestingly, Santhosh, general secretary of BJP, whose name up as an alternative candidate for the CM post, is a Brahmin.u00a0

It was obvious that K S Eswarappa, state president of the BJP, spearheading the dissidence, met Bhende on Wednesday, after the campaign to oust Yeddyurappa was revived last week. The meeting was attended by Visweswara Hegde Kageri, monitor for education, and MP Prahlad Joshi, who are Brahmins.

Although, it seems to be a political clash between Lingayats and Brahmins, the leaders of other communities are with the dissidents. Eswarappa represents the Kuruba community, which is the third largest community in the state, and the Reddy brothers and Nayak community leaders, such as Sriramulu are with the rebels.

Addressing a public
gathering in the city yesterday at a function organized by a Lingayat mutt, Eswarappa said, "I am making it clear in front of the seers of the Lingayat mutt that no one must indulge in caste politics and nepotism. If
anybody does, they will not survive."u00a0u00a0Yeddyurappa was on the dais, when he made this statement and in the same speech, Eshwarappa said, "No one can displace Yeddyurappa," but that did not seem to make the CM look any happier. Later, Yeddyurappa said, "Let them do whatever they can. But, they can not destabilise me and my government."