According to political observers and many within the Congress, Siddaramaiah government's decision to accord "religious minority" status to the dominant Lingayat community had resulted in electoral losses for the party in 2018 Assembly polls.

Source: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/karnataka-election-siddaramaiah-top-contender-for-cm-post/article66846340.ece

BJP Central Parliamentary Board member and former chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Saturday told the influential Lingayat community that he is retiring fromBJP electoral politics on his own and urged them not to have any hard feelings about it.

Source: https://www.ibtimes.co.in/am-retiring-electoral-politics-my-own-yediyurappa-lingayats-857014

BJP Central Parliamentary Board member and former chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Saturday told the influential Lingayat community that he is retiring from electoral politics on his own and urged them not to have any hard feelings about it.

Source: https://www.ibtimes.co.in/am-retiring-electoral-politics-my-own-yediyurappa-lingayats-857014

"Hundred per cent Lingayat Community is with us.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/karnataka-elections-2023-karnataka-polls-bs-yediyurappa-karnataka-lingayats-bjps-last-minute-bid-to-draw-lingayats-in-karnataka-fails-4031283

On the other hand, they will strengthen the Lingayat lobby within the Congress, which wants its own CM.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/insight-kharges-fear-of-falling-short-in-karnataka

The first one is that Congress has chosen six Lingayat candidates for inclusion in the State Cabinet and the second is the criminal case against Mr. Kulkarni, because of which he is barred from entering Dharwad district.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/dharwad-gets-representation-in-siddaramaiah-cabinet/article66901314.ece

The presence of Anil Kumar could lead to a split of Scheduled Caste (25% of total votes in the seat) and Lingayat (30%) votes between the BJP and Congress, he says.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/deve-gowda-back-on-the-road-2019-ls-loss-jds-campaign-8575274/

The senior most BJP and Lingayat leader from North Karnataka, Jagadish Shettar, quit the saffron party after being denied a ticket from Hubballi Dharwad Central, which he won successively for six times from 1994 as the party’s candidate.

Source: https://www.financialexpress.com/elections/hubbali-dharwad-central-assembly-election-2023-jagadish-shettar-squares-off-against-mahesh-tenginakai-in-prestige-battle/3081530/

While Mr. Savadi belongs to Ganiga Lingayat sub-sect, Mr. Shettar belongs to the political powerful Banajiga Lingayat sub-sect.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/elections/karnataka-assembly/exit-of-lingayat-leaders-jolts-bjp-ahead-of-polls/article66745124.ece

While Mr. Savadi belongs to Ganiga Lingayat sub-sect, Mr. Shettar belongs to the political powerful Banajiga Lingayat sub-sect.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/elections/karnataka-assembly/exit-of-lingayat-leaders-jolts-bjp-ahead-of-polls/article66745124.ece

Yatnal, a Lingayat leader like Yediyurappa, said.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/in-karnataka-house-bjp-divided-as-discontent-simmers-over-vijayendra-ashoka-elevation-9061691/