In depth | Who is Basavaraj Bommai and why Lingayats matter in Karnataka politics

Basavaraj Bommai is the next chief minister of Karnataka and with his selection the BJP has yet again picked a Lingayat face for the state's top chair.

An engineer by qualification, Bommai joined the BJP in 2008 and belongs to the Sadara Lingayat community.

A close confidant of BS Yediyurappa, Bommai's father SR Bommai also served as Karnataka's chief minister.

In the past, Bommai held the portfolio of water resources and is a three-time MLA and a two-time MLC from Shiggaon in Haveri district.

The outgoing Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa is from the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community. The Lingayats are considered to be the BJP's core support base in Karnataka and have historically influenced the state's politics.

Eight of the 20 chief ministers of Karnataka since 1956 have been from the Lingayat community.

Most poll analysts says this politically influential community has a significant presence in about 140 of Karnataka's 224 assembly constituencies, and a decisive presence in about 90 seats. Lingayats form nearly 17 per cent of the Karnataka's population.

Most political analysts believe irking the Lingayats is tantamount to political suicide in Karnataka and that is why the veteran Yediyurappa has been replaced with Basavraja Bommai.