In what looks like a repeat of 2013, the Centre is likely to not give its approval to the lingayats as a separate religion. In 2013 as well, the UPA-led union government had refused to grant status to the Lingayats as a separate religion saying such a tag would disadvantage people belonging to scheduled castes who follow the Veerashaiva-Lingayat Dharma. The 2013 proposal was made by the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha. The BJP seized on the contradiction, saying the Congress move was a desperate bid to retain power by dividing hindus.