Does Yathnal replace BSY as lingayath leader?

The aftermath of Panchamsali lingayath reservation agitation has clearly indicated two things in the offing. One is that of BS Yediyurappa's undisputed leadership among lingayaths is waning. And the another one, who is likely to fill this vacuum. It is debatable for some, whether BSY is gradually dethroned from his self acquired leadership of lingayaths. But the reality is that the ground under him is sinking. If he had the real intension of solving the panchamasali  reservation issue, he could have done that in the initial stages itself. He knows that for next elections his leadership may vanish and  in all likely hood he is just gaining time. This may look as if an era of BSY is slowly coming to an end.

During this episode few leaders of both the parties  emerged to the fore front as panchamshali lingayath netas. They are BJP MLA's Basanagouda Patil Yathnal of Vijayapura and Aravind Bellad of Dharawad. Ministers in BS Yediyurappa cabinet CC Patil and Murugesh Nirani although participated in this rally were behaved only as spokesman of Yediyurappa and they didn't show any distinguishable leadership qualities. They can be more described as leiutenants of BS Yediyurappa. Former Hunagund MLA of Congress Vijayananda Kashappanavar also stood throughout the agitation. Of these,  Yathnal and Bellad are having a promising leadership qualities. Compared to Bellad, Yathnal is a versatile person.

Basanagouda Patil Yathnal is a rustic northern Karnataka leader. He was railway state minister in Atal Behari Vajapayee's NDA government. Originally he is an RSS activist. He ardently followed BS Yediyurappa in his critical period when he was thrown out of BJP. It is at BS Yediyurappa's insistence he was brought back to BJP. He is a heavyweight in the eyes of high command. Hence, there's no action against him on his repeated accusations against  BS Yediyurappa and his family. He has the support of central minister Prahlad Joshi in putting an upfront against BS Yediyurappa. 

Can Yathnal take away the mantle of undisputed leadership of lingayath community from BS Yediyurappa? The answer is both yes and no. But he has been only I identified as a panchamashali stalwart. It is true that they are in large number. But lingayath community consists of 107 smaller sects. There are SC's as well jangamas in the community. Hence it is a complex and cosmopolitan in nature. Its like a true Hindu society wherein you find both upper strata vedic people as well as down trodden dalits like holemaadigas. If Yathnal can bring a harmonious coordination between all sects instead of fighting for only one caste can really make him tall leader.

Though, BS Yediyurappa has not done any good to the lingayaths as a community, he claimed his supremacy as its leader himself. Its like self styled declaration. He might have given crores to the powerful swamijis and mutts but not helped any ordinary lingayath. He has been the leader in the shade of swamijis. He  politically encashed the vacuum by self claiming him as undisputed lingayath leader. But for Yathnal environment is different. He doesn't need to satisfy disgruntled Swamijis. He need to build confidence among all sects of lingayaths. Reservation is not only required for panchamasalis but also required for all 107 sub castes as everyone align with them in similar socioeconomic conditions. As Yathnal is emerging as a natural lingayath leader post panchamasali agitation, he has to take the lead to raise to the situation to exploit it in his favour.