, According to political observers and many people within the Congress, the Siddaramaiah government’s decision to grant “religious minority” status to the dominant Lingayat community resulted in the party’s loss in the assembly elections. Then not only did the Congress lose badly in Lingayat-dominated constituencies, but most of the prominent leaders actively involved in the “separate Lingayat Dharma” movement were also defeated. As the then Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah himself contested the elections to Chamundeshwari 2018 in Mysuru against JD(S)’s G.T. Deve Gowda was defeated by 36, 36 votes. He won from Chamundeshwari seat five times and tasted defeat thrice.