H D Deve Gowda taking oath as Prime Minister of India was one of the biggest days for the Vokkaliga community, the second most powerful caste in Karnataka.
Like one has seen in all elections, political parties look to seek the backing of either the Vokkaliga or Lingayat community, who have had a history of voting en-masse for a political party.
Gowda and his family on their part still control the Vokkaliga vote bank and in the upcoming elections, the entire focus is on this community who are predominant in the Old-Mysuru region. The Vokkaligas unlike the Lingayats do not have a pan-Karnataka presence. They are stronger in the Old-Mysuru Region and constitute 14 per cent of the electorate.
Vicky Nanjappa 
Post your thoughts