Karnataka’s Contentious ‘Caste Census’ Report Lastly Tabled Earlier than State Cupboard: Why It Is A ‘Political Scorching Potato’ – News18

Final Up to date:April 11, 2025, 20:56 IST

Sources within the authorities informed News18 {that a} subcommittee is more likely to be set as much as examine and analyse the suggestions submitted by Jayaprakash Hegde, chairperson of the Karnataka State Fee for Backward Courses

The contentious Social, Academic, and Financial Survey of Karnataka—generally known as the “caste census“—was lastly tabled earlier than the state cupboard. However a call on accepting it or not has as soon as once more been deferred. The difficulty will now be taken up on April 17 at a particular cupboard assembly in Vidhan Soudha, Bengaluru.

Sources within the authorities informed News18 {that a} subcommittee is more likely to be set as much as examine and analyse the suggestions submitted by Jayaprakash Hegde, chairperson of the Karnataka State Fee for Backward Courses.

It was additionally mentioned that Congress chief Rahul Gandhi’s robust push for social justice and better reservation for Different Backward Courses (OBCs) has prompted fast motion in Karnataka, with the state cupboard set to take up the survey as a key merchandise in its assembly.

Chief minister Siddaramaiah had beforehand promised to implement the suggestions of the BC Fee report, however as quickly as he made this announcement, he was confronted with resistance from Vokkaligas and Lingayats — two politically influential communities within the state. It was additionally mentioned that the AICC assembly in Ahmedabad and the displeasure expressed by the occasion excessive command within the delay within the report being made public may have pressured the hand of the Congress in Karnataka to have tabled it on Friday.

It’s learnt that no less than 5 senior ministers belonging to the Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities, the 2 dominant communities in Karnataka, had earlier expressed their dissent to the CM in opposition to the report submitted by Hegde and Kantharaj.

Eshwar Khandre, senior minister within the Siddaramaiah cupboard and a outstanding Lingayat chief, informed News18 that some group leaders have sought to know whether or not this survey was performed “scientifically”.

“Relating to the caste census report, there have been apprehensions by sure sections of society and group leaders that it might have been performed unscientifically. I introduced this to the discover of the chief minister, and he mentioned now that this report has been tabled. We are going to examine it after which take a name on it. Choices will likely be taken to make sure no part will face injustice,” Khandre informed News18.

One other senior minister, Santosh Lad, mentioned, “The report has been tabled within the cupboard. Within the assembly on April 17, the paperwork will likely be shared with the ministers. It’s a voluminous report, and although we now have a basic concept, we are going to know the precise figures solely when we now have the report in hand.”

Lad added, “The draft that has been given by the committee will likely be analysed and mentioned. Let the professionals and cons be mentioned, recommendations taken under consideration, and the apprehensions of individuals considered.”

Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi mentioned that the report submitted by Hegde on March 1, 2024, consists of two key sections—a social and academic survey and a complete caste-wise inhabitants report.

He mentioned the survey coated 1.35 crore households, comprising 5.98 crore folks—representing 94.17% of Karnataka’s estimated inhabitants. Based mostly on the 2011 census, Karnataka’s inhabitants stood at 6.11 crore. By 2017, the estimate was revised to six.35 crore. That leaves practically 37 lakh folks—or about 5.83%—who weren’t coated within the survey or had been ignored.

As well as, eight volumes detailing caste traits and statistics have been submitted in digital format. Tangadagi mentioned a complete of 13 volumes cowl social, academic, and financial information by caste. General, the report spans 30 volumes, together with detailed district, taluk, household, and inhabitants information. A complete of fifty books had been submitted.

The Congress has again and again come beneath fireplace over the caste survey—each for delays in tabling the report and for repeatedly pushing again cabinet-level discussions on it.

The final time tabling the report was deferred, sources mentioned, was on the recommendation of AICC basic secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala. That suggestion reportedly got here after deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar sought his intervention to delay the report, as strain mounted from the state’s two dominant caste teams—Lingayats and Vokkaligas. Many leaders from each communities had threatened to agitate if the report was made public.

This wasn’t the one occasion of the federal government dodging the difficulty. The Congress had earlier stalled it after a poor displaying within the Haryana elections after which once more in the course of the Karnataka bypolls in November. Regardless of being prepared, the report remained beneath wraps—averted at each flip for concern of political fallout.

In 2020, the BJP authorities had appointed Jayaprakash Hegde as chairman of the Karnataka State Fee for Backward Courses. However the findings remained unpublished till February 29, 2024, when Hegde submitted the ultimate report in a sealed envelope to the Siddaramaiah authorities. On the time, Hegde mentioned the report included suggestions on reservations in training and public employment, together with focused welfare measures for backward communities.

It was anticipated to be taken up for dialogue instantly. However with Lok Sabha elections looming, the federal government determined to carry off on any choice till no less than July.

The origins of the present survey return to H Kantharaj’s tenure as fee chairman. After his time period ended, the info was thought-about incomplete. Hegde, upon taking cost, pushed to finish the work and submit a remaining report back to the chief minister. This was performed at a value of round Rs 169 crore. The Congress had dismissed the 2015 caste information as “unscientific” and ordered the fee to depend on the brand new information beneath Kantharaj’s mandate.

However the report has not simply sparked opposition exterior the federal government—it has brought about friction throughout the Congress itself. Ministers from the dominant Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities have brazenly opposed the report, with their respective group organisations petitioning in opposition to it.

Deputy CM Shivakumar, together with a number of Vokkaliga ministers, had signed a petition rejecting the findings in November final 12 months. The All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, representing the Lingayat group, additionally demanded a recent survey, citing leaked figures that reportedly present Dalits as the biggest caste group in Karnataka—upending current demographic perceptions.

A minimum of 5 senior ministers belonging to the 2 communities have expressed dissatisfaction with the Hegde report.

In January, Deputy CM Shivakumar requested the Vokkaliga Sangha to postpone a deliberate assembly on the caste survey, warning it might “create pointless confusion”. Not lengthy after, the federal government mentioned the report can be mentioned within the cupboard—solely to push it again as soon as once more.

The Congress had made the caste survey a key ballot promise in the course of the 2023 meeting election marketing campaign. However comparable workout routines in Bihar and Rahul Gandhi’s public name for a nationwide caste census have added to the strain on Siddaramaiah—particularly as he tries to stroll the tightrope between political survival and holding AHINDA assist intact.

Karnataka, with a inhabitants of over 7 crore, has practically 1,500 castes, sub-castes, and communities. The Lingayats and Vokkaligas are among the many most politically influential. Whereas the Lingayats declare to represent 17–18% of the inhabitants and the Vokkaligas estimate their quantity at 14–15%, leaked information suggests each communities could also be beneath 10%.

The numbers, if made public, may influence not simply social standing but in addition entry to welfare entitlements. The political stakes are excessive. CM Siddaramaiah, seen because the tallest AHINDA chief, belongs to the Kuruba group, listed beneath the 2A OBC class.

The Kurubas have lengthy demanded inclusion within the Scheduled Tribes (ST) checklist. The Lingayats, beneath the 3B OBC class with 5% reservation, are internally divided—particularly the Panchamasalis, a serious subsect pushing for 2A standing.

Lingayats have BJP veteran BS Yediyurappa as their tallest chief. The Vokkaligas are represented by union minister HD Kumaraswamy, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar.