“Hangal was our message to the BJP”

By Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: In February 2021, Sri Jayamurthyunajaya Swami brought traffic to a standstill in the heart of Bengaluru, as he led a march by tens of thousands of Panchamsaalis, mainly from north Karnataka, into the city.

The spiritual leader of the sect had walked for hundreds of miles, rallying the Panchamsaali community – a sub sect of the powerful Lingayat community which backs fellow Lingayat B. S. Yediyurappa - as they pushed for reservations for a Backward Classes category, called 2A that would give them reservations in education and jobs. The only other Backward Class community that is entitled to reservations are the Edigas and the Kurubas.

B.S.Yediyurappa, who was Chief Minister then, had little choice but to agree to fulfil their demands. He asked the seer for three months time. But with him stepping down from office three months ago,, the Panchamsaalis realised they had been blindsided and taken for a ride. The embarrassing loss of the Hangal seat in the recently held bypolls in a seat dominated by Lingayats. Is therefore no accident.

In a stinging interview to News Trail’s Shyam Sundar Vattam, the miffed Panchamasali community pontiff reveals how he instructed his community to teach the BJP a lesson and switch their loyalty to the Congress.

NT: You had set down October 30 as the deadline for the State Government to get the report from the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission regarding giving reservations to the Panchamsali community under 2A. What’s the progress?

Swamiji: As per our demand, the government has issued an order to undertake the survey. But, we have not received the report yet. The chairman of the Backward Classes commission was supposed to visit the districts in North Karnataka for the survey. But, it has been put off following the announcement of a model code of conduct in connection with the election to 25 seats in the State Legislative Council from local bodies slated to be held on December 10. For this reason, the survey has been postponed to December. What we had told the government was to get the report before the by-polls to two Assembly seats. But our words were not honoured by the government. So, our community people were upset, especially in Hangal. The only good development has been the government asking the commission to undertake the survey. The commission had selected Belagavi district and had planned to hold the survey for three days since it was a big district. I asked how the model code of conduct would come in the way of the survey since it had been decided recently but the officers informed me that it was not possible since some of them were in the MLC elections. Understanding it, we have decided not to press for it.

NT: Do you think one or the other hurdles are coming in the way of fulfilling your long pending demands?

Swamiji: What to do? The Government got an excuse to postpone it. We have decided to remain calm as the Election Commission of India is an independent body and its decision cannot be opposed or overruled. As much as the government delays, the Panchamasali are going to give their reply to BJP. Had the government got the report from the Backward Classes Commission, our community people would have supported the BJP. We, the Panchamasali community didn’t support the saffron party in Hangal this time since we were dissatisfied with the government. Our community has 65,000 votes in that constituency. We had made it very clear and had warned the government that this time, the Panchamasalis will not support the BJP.

NT: So, you mean to say that the Panchamasali votes went to the Congress candidate?

Swamiji: Usually, 90 percent of our community votes for the BJP. This time, we were unhappy as the BJP denied ticket to our community candidate. So, a direct result of the denial of reservation and not giving ticket to a Panchamsali candidate resulted in the defeat of BJP candidate. The Panchamsali votes have gone in favour of the Congress in Hangal. But, in Sindagi, the BJP won the seat. I personally remain neutral without supporting any party as I did not want to get involved in electoral politics.

NT: Has the government been considerate to your demands?

Swamiji: There is still time for the government to understand our sentiments and fulfill our demands. The message we have given in Hangal is just simple; if our demands are met, we will show our real strength in the 2023 Assembly polls. Now we are telling the government to get the report from the Backward Classes commission at least before the election to 25 MLC posts to be held on December 14, and after that, they can decide on giving reservation for us.

NT: Recently, former chairman of the Backward Classe