BJP rebels plan caste-based rallies in Karnataka's Shivamogga

New Delhi: Days after appearing before the disciplinary committee, senior BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal is planning to hold Panchamasali and Sadar Lingayat sub caste rallies at Shivamogga district, in an attempt to challenge former chief minister B S Yediyurappa. 

The district has sizable population of Panchamasali and Sadar sub-caste communities and the BJP rebel leaders are trying to mobilise these two communities, sources said.

Yatnal, a Panchamasali leader, is in discussion with former Lok Sabha member G M Siddeshwar, a Sadar Lingayat leader. Both the leaders planning to mobilise their respective sub-caste people in Shivamogga district, which is also bastion of Yediyurappa.

These rallies have been planned after Belagavi Assembly session at Soraba or Shikaripura, sources said.  

Siddeshwara, who identified with rebel leaders camp, belives that Yediyurappa’s family “adjustment” with Congress leaders resulted in the defeat of his wife G S Gayathri in the Davangere Lok Sabha seat against Congress candidate Prabha Mallikarjun.