Overview
- Lingayat seers at the Basava Culture Campaign in Bengaluru adopted a resolution renewing the call for separate religious recognition.
- A day after saying Lingayat is a separate religion, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah clarified he has no stance and said surveyors will record whatever respondents declare, with about 63% of households counted.
- Senior ministers split publicly, with M. B. Patil asserting Lingayatism is distinct from the chaturvarna system and Eshwar Khandre insisting Veerashaiva‑Lingayats are a single community.
- Community bodies, including the Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha, urged followers to select the “others” category in the Socioeconomic and Educational Survey to signal support for recognition.
- BJP leaders, led by B. Y. Vijayendra, condemned the push as divisive, and any formal change would still require Central government approval after a similar 2018 bid was rejected.