How BJP is looking beyond Lingayats in Karnataka with focus on Vokkaligas

In an effort to expand its foothold in the Vokkaliga community, BJP named 41 Vokkaliga candidates in its first list of 189 for the Karnataka polls. BJP's bid is seen as a calculated gamble given that the party has not done well previously in the community-dominated Old Mysore region, which has 59 seats. BJP had fielded 28 Vokkaliga candidates in 2018 and won just six seats, a key factor in its failure to reach the magic figure of 113 in the 224-member House even as it emerged as the single-largest party with 104 seats. While BJP has done well in the "polarised" coastal regions, it has remained the first preference for the dominant Lingayat community, which constitutes 17% of the electorate. #karnataka #karnatakaassemblyelection2023 #bjp Subscribe to The Times of India's YouTube channel: http://goo.gl/WgIatu For daily news & updates and exclusive stories, follow the Times of India Facebook:   / timesofindia   Instagram:   / timesofindia   Download the app: http://toi.in/3SLUCa80 Follow TOI+ for well-researched and in-depth news and analysis Facebook:   / timesofindiaplus   Twitter:   / toiplus   Instagram:   / toi_plus