Lingayat Religion Status Row Reignites Amid BJP-Mahasabha Clash

Quick Summary

• KarnatakaS socio-educational survey (caste census) begins on September 22, aiming to collect data on socio-educational and economic parameters from 2 crore households.
• Teh Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, the state’s largest caste group with a population of roughly seven crore, is experiencing internal divisions over the enumeration process.
• Two factions: Veerashaiva Mahasabha has urged members to list themselves as “Veerashaiva-Lingayats” under “others” in the religion column. lingayat Mahasabha insists on listing only as “Lingayats” under “others.”
• BJP leaders have criticized this move as a “Congress ploy” intended to divide Hindus; former CM Basavaraj Bommai called it unconstitutional and politically motivated.
• Panchamasalis, a prominent sub-sect within Veerashaiva-lingayats, are divided among two separate meetings hosted by Harihara and Koodalasangama religious leaders.
• Earlier surveys reportedly underestimated their population-66.35 lakh by the 2015 H. Kantharaj Commission versus community claims of 17%-22% of Karnataka’s total population.
• Religious heads of approximately 1,500 mutts back the veerashaiva Mahasabha’s strategy for enumeration under “others,” claiming constitutional protection under Article 25.

Published – September 16,2025 | Read More Link

Indian Opinion Analysis

The upcoming caste census in Karnataka highlights complex dynamics within one of the state’s most politically influential communities-the Veerashaiva-lingayat group.The split between factions advocating diffrent self-identifications points toward deeper sociopolitical tensions that could redefine alliances both within the community and across political platforms.

For decades, this land-owning community has wielded important political clout in central Karnataka regions; revisiting its demographic numbers could influence resource allocation policies or electoral strategies for parties like Congress and BJP alike. BJP’s response frames these divisions as harmful to Hindu unity-a recurring theme in national discourse-but veiling it within constitutional debates raises larger questions about identity politics vis-a-vis governance.

The structural inclusion of diverse columns like “Brahmin Christians” or “Lingayat Christians” underscores evolving societal realities but risks exacerbating fragmentation if not handled judiciously during implementation stages.

With claims that prior surveys significantly underestimated their numbers, accurate data collection will be critical not just for policymaking but also for legitimizing communities’ socio-political demands amid heightened sensitivities surrounding depiction.Published – September 16 | Read More Link