It became evident on Sunday with MLA Mahima Patel revolting against the party for not keeping its promise of handing over baton to the BJP.

The party’s Lingayat legislator and son of late Chief Minister J H Patel, Mr Patel, bid “adieu” to JD(S) and publicly warned people will not forgive it for not keeping its word. “Everything works on trust. When the party does not respect it, I decided I should not be associated with JD(S),” Mr Patel said, adding he may float his own party.
He resigned from the post of Parliamentary Secretary soon after the JD(S) Legislature Party meeting on Sunday. A few hours later, another Lingayat leader from north Karnataka Vijay Sankeshwar announced his intention to disassociate himself from the party, citing same reasons.

Lingayat MLAs see a wave of sympathy towards the BJP, especially B S Yediyurappa, who is also a Lingayat. And they are scared that ‘the battle for power’ may take caste angle -- as Vokkaliga (H D Kumaraswamy is a Vokkaliga) vs Lingayat. In fact, almost all Lingayat religious institutions had, much in advance, threatened to launch an agitation if Mr Yediyurappa is not made the CM.

According to the party insiders, nearly 30 MLAs, including senior JD(S) ministers, are unhappy with the developments. “Majority of the MLAs wanted the party to keep its word. But they are scared to openly express their opinion,” sources said. JD(S) has around 13 Lingayat MLAs.

HIGHLIGHTS
*Will JD(S) MLAs, who are opposed to the party’s stand on power transfer, form a group of their own and extend support to a BJP-led government? There were speculations to this effect but such an effort may not reach a logical end.

*A group of JD(S) MLAs, in case decide to come out of the parent body, then it should have at least 39 MLAs on its side. The total strength of JD(S) is 59. Party sources say such a large number of MLAs may not come out of the party antagonising Gowda family.

*On whether Lingayat MLAs in JD(S) would come in support of Yediyurappa, a JD(S) leader said his party hardly has 13 Lingayat MLAs. BJP has 48 MLAs belonging to this community.

*On whether JD(S) would split opposing Gowda’s stand, sources said the party has to split if MLAs opposing Gowda have to form a legislature party on their own. At least 30 MLAs should join hands to split the party, which at this juncture, looks remote, sources said.