Renewing their call seeking recognition as a separate religion and grant of minority status, Lingayat organisations have threatened to vote against the BJP if this was not acceded to. "Our demand is for recognition as a separate religion and grant of minority status. However, Veershaiva- Lingayat pontiffs and organisations like the Akhil Bharatiya Veershaiv Yuvak Sanghatana (Shiva) of Manohar Dhonde of the Akhil Bharatiya Veershaiv Yuvak Sanghatana (Shiva) oppose the separate religion demand. The separate religion status for Lingayats, who make around 17% of the population, had dominated the 2018 Karnataka legislative assembly elections. The erstwhile Siddaramaiah-led Congress government granted the independent religion tag to the community but the move came as a cropper in the polls.

Source: dna February 18, 2019 00:56 UTC