Apart from belonging to the Vokkaliga community that is the second most prominent in the state after the Lingayats, Ravi’s rise in Karnataka politics differs in another crucial aspect from Yediyurappa’s.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/karnataka-bjp-yediyurappa-c-t-ravi-issue-8504502/

But the candidature of Swaroop, who belongs to the same Dasa Vokkaliga subsect as the Deve Gowda family, may have divided the party base.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/karnataka-elections-2023-hassan-preetham-gowda-swaroop-prakash-8563954/

Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had stormed the Vokkaliga belt in the Old Mysuru region with a series of rallies.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/security-breach-at-pm-modis-roadshow-in-hubballi-young-man-pulled-away-by-security-as-he-tries-to-give-garland-watch

It has set up a Vokkaliga Development Board, unveiled a statue of the community’s iconic leader, Kempegowda, and promised an additional two per cent quota.

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

JD(S) too has fielded Vokkaliga, B Nagaraju from here.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/with-r-ashoka-bjp-looking-to-break-dk-shivakumars-karnataka-stronghold-4010804

Soon after Shivakumar played the Vokkaliga community card, Kumaraswamy retorted that it was impossible for him to become a CM while in the Congress.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/d-k-shivakumar-congress-karnataka-results-siddaramaiah-8607441/