Karnataka has a huge population of Veerashaiva-Lingayats, the chief minister said. (File)
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has ordered the formation of a corporation for all-round development of the politically-influential Veerashaiva Lingayat community in the state.
Mr Yediyurappa, who himself belongs to the community, issued an order for constituting the Karnataka Veerashaiva-Lingayat Development Corporation (KVLDC) with immediate effect.
It came a day after a group of ministers and BJP MLAs led by Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi from the community called on Mr Yediyurappa demanding setting up of the corporation.
"The state has a huge population of Veerashaiva-Lingayats, of which there are people who are economically, socially and educationally backward. Since there is a need to set Karnataka Veerashaiva-Lingayat Development Corporation for the all-round development of this community, it is ordered to immediately set up this corporation," the Chief Minister said in his order.
The demand by the ministers for a corporation for the Lingayat community came against the backdrop of Yediyurappa's recent announcement establishing the Karnataka Maratha Development Authority earmarking Rs 50 crore.
The decisions to set up the KVLDC and Maratha Development Authority are seen by sections in political circles as an attempt to woo the Marathas and the Veerashaiva-Lingayats, who are in sizeable numbers in Basava Kalyan assembly segment in Bidar district and Belagavi Lok Sabha constituency, bordering Maharashtra, where byelections are due.
Bsava Kalyan and Belagavi seats have fallen vacant following the demise of sitting Congress MLA B Narayan Rao and BJP MP Suresh Angadi due to COVID-19 recently.
The Congress, however, has earlier dismissed the demand for KVLDC, saying it will not serve any purpose. Instead, there should be reservation for the Veerashaiva Lingayats in education and government jobs, it said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)