Yeddyurappa, a fiery leader believed to be the source of the Lingayats’ support for the BJP, has been criss-crossing the state to campaign for the party.
Even in the former CM’s own village, people are getting ready to vote on caste lines, which means the BJP will have to work hard to win over non-Lingayats.
The Lingayats have traditionally voted for a leader and not a party. A chief ministerial aspirant from their community would make them vote for that party.
The PM is trying to downplay Siddaramaiah’s popularity by making it a Modi vs Rahul battle. If the BJP wins, it will be seen as his victory over Rahul.
The CBI had, in November, said it could not take forward the probe into the mining scam. But in March, Siddaramaiah announced an SIT to continue the probe.
The head priest of the Shiva shrine is a Veerashaiva-Lingayat, and the BJP hopes Modi's visit to the temple before launching his Karnataka campaign will help win the hearts of Lingayats.
Many of the 154 candidates declared in the first two lists were ministers & MLAs when BJP won Karnataka in 2008, but also face criminal & corruption charges.
SEBI probe concluded that purported loans and fund transfers were paid back in full and did not amount to deceptive market practices or unreported related party transactions.
A common thread runs through the memories of soldiers of the 1965 war—ingenuity, courage and camaraderie that withstood an apparently technologically superior foe.
Many really smart people now share the position that playing cricket with Pakistan is politically, strategically and morally wrong. It is just a poor appreciation of competitive sport.
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