Leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi pushing for a nationwide caste census and endorsing the slogan ‘Jitni abadi utna haq’ while calling for greater representation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) based on their population, has failed to enthuse his own partymen in Karnataka.
Despite Chief Minister Siddaramaiah promising to table the caste census report in the state cabinet, it did not make it to the agenda once again on Monday.
The CM stalling the report comes as no big surprise as the ruling Congress is divided over the issue of making the report public fearing political ramifications.
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Siddarmaiah, who has championed the cause of the “Ahinda” (minorities, backward classes and dalits)—the traditional votebank of the Congress—is keen on implementing the caste census.
In 2015, Siddaramaiah (during his first tenure as the CM) had ordered the caste census to assess the socio-economic and educational backwardness of all communities.
A committee headed by then Backward Classes commission H. Kantharaju carried out the survey at a cost of around Rs 169 crore. While the report was ready by 2016, it was put in cold storage by subsequent governments.
Again in 2020, the BJP government appointed Jayaprakash Hegde as the Commission chief but the report was not made public.
Hegde submitted the final report to the Siddaramaiah government on February 29, 2024, where he recommended reservation in education and public employment and targeted intervention to empower the backward communities.
The Vokkaligara Sangha and the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, which represent the Vokkaligas and Lingayats, the two dominant caste groups in the state, are opposed to the caste census as they suspect the survey has undercounted their population. The two communities believed to be numerically strong (Lingayat – 17 percent of total population and Vokkaliga – 12 per cent) have been wielding immense political power. At least 16 of the 23 chief ministers of Karnataka belonged to these two caste groups. The community leaders cutting across party-lines feel that the census by undercounting their numbers might curtail their political representation both within and outside the party.
The Vokkaliga ministers have dismissed the caste census calling it flawed, while the Lingayat ministers feel it is not scientific as it is not based on the latest census data. The Mahasabha has urged the government to conduct a fresh survey or wait for the central census data.
On the other hand, the Ahinda leaders are enthused with the prospect of having outnumbered the dominant caste groups in the yet to be tabled report.
Even as Siddaramaiah reiterates that affirmative action would be taken based on the new data to empower the marginalised communities, the rift within the cabinet and party are widening.
The opposition BJP which welcomes a caste census asserts that it should be carried out scientifically and with the latest population data. The opposition has also alleged that the CM had raked up the caste census issue and promised to table the report before the cabinet on October 18 only to divert attention from the MUDA scam.
The model code of conduct that is in place till November 23 owing to the three bypolls has given a breather to the Siddaramaiah government to decide on whether to accept the revised survey or not.
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