Panchamshali Reservation: Dent in BSY leadership

BJP dissident MLA Basnagowda Patil Yathnal who vehemently  supported Panchamsali agitation for 2A reservation has received a reprive from BJP high command immediately after the rally. He was summoned  to Delhi by BJP president Nadda and warned not to vent his demands  publicly but advised to resolve them within party folds. However, he has denied it and continued his support from Delhi.gy Ministers Murugesh Nirani, CC Patil and MLA Aravinda  Bellad of BJP also proved  their  leadership  mettle along with Yathnal. It's a matter of question whether  they would be able to encash this opportunity politically. But they have emerged as a big leaders of Panchamashali community. Besides, former MLA Vijayananda Kashappanavar of Congress also emerged as an alternative leader of that party. But it's  not that easy to replace BSY from  unquestionable leadership of Lingayaths. However, a dent  has been made  to check his kingdom. It all depends on how he would handle the crisis to his advantage to retain  his authority.

This reservation  drama which could have been resolved  much earlier  has now removed Yediyurappa's undisputed  leadership  from their  Panchamsali sect but not from entire Lingayath community. Still  he holds  his position  intact but if he fails to do justice to  all other 100 and odd castes, certainly he will fall from grace. The socio-economic status of entire  Lingayaths is no different from that of Panchamasalis. Infact, there are much more  backward castes lies in the community. As Panchamasalis are a big chunk among Lingayaths they have their own caste gurus like Basava Jaya Mrutyumjaya swamiji of Kudala  Sangama and Vachananada swamiji of Harihara, who lead the agitation to its success. After padayatre Vachananda has back tracked and Basava Jaya Mrutyumjaya is continuing his dharana in Bengaluru till 4th of March dead line. It looks the leaders are divided and community is united. Referring to criticism from BJP, Kashappanavar shot back at the two ministers of the community asking them to declare 2A status before deadline and assured the agitation would be withdrawn.

But there are minor castes like madivala,  kumbara, nekara, ganiga, badagi, chammara, dohara, bhajantri, kammara, simpi and so on who are really poor  rather than that of panchamasalis. They do not have their own gurus. As per Basavanna philosophy goes this classification itself is wrong. This bifurcation according  to Basavanna is ridiculous. According to him all those who ware istha linga are equal. Even the existence  of Panchamashali  gurupeetha is a recent  phenomenon of a decade or so. Till recently panchamasalis  were worshipping panchchapeetha jagadgurus like jangamas or aradhyas. There are powerful  mutts apart from panchappethas. Sirigere mutt is mainly looks  after sadaru sect. Suttur mutt and Siddaganga mutt are meant mainly to the cause of gowda lingayaths. Chitrdurga mutt looks  more towards banajigas. Nolambas are also major sect of Lingayaths, they lack a gurupeetha. They are  divided with the above gurupeethas. They are farmers like panchamasalis. Now the  onus lies with BSY to do justice  for all Lingayaths alike to retain his  unquestionable leadership. Otherwise, he would loose it very soon to some other who can deal judiciously with all castes and communities.