Caste census: Karnataka Congress divided as DK Shivakumar wants CM to reject report

The ruling Karnataka Congress is divided over the state’s Socio-Economic and Education Survey, popularly known as the “caste census”, as Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has signed a memorandum urging his government to reject it and called for a fresh survey to be done in a “scientific way”.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday had asserted that his decision to accept the report is unwavering but his deputy Shivakumar being a signatory to the memorandum submitted to him, requesting to reject it along with the data, has put the party in a tight spot.

Along with Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Shivakumar, who hails from the dominant Vokkaliga community, the memorandum by the Vokkaligara Sangha – the community body – is also signed by some Ministers and Congress legislators.

Also, political stalwarts like former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, former Chief Ministers SM Krishna, DV Sadananda Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka, are among several legislators from both BJP and JD(S) who have signed the memorandum.

Vokkaliga leaders at a meeting, which was also attended by Shivakumar and prominent seers from the community recently, passed a resolution urging the government to “reject” the caste census.

The then Siddaramaiah-led Congress government (2013-2018) in 2015 had commissioned the survey in the state, the findings of which have not been made public yet.

In a post on X (Twitter) on Tuesday, Siddaramaiah said he fully agrees with party leader Rahul Gandhi’s stand that if Congress is voted to power at the Centre in 2024, the first thing it would do is to conduct a caste census.

“I fully agree with our proud leader Rahul Gandhi's stand. I feel that the country's independence will be meaningful only when the caste census is conducted across the country and based on its report, ‘equal share for all - equal rights for all’.

“Accepting the report of the Economic, Social and Educational Survey conducted by our previous government, my resolve to do justice to the disadvantaged communities is unwavering,” Siddaramaiah said.

Stating that Vokkaligas have submitted the memorandum to him and that he has accepted it, the CM said, “I also told them, without seeing the report, even before the report is submitted, why are you opposing.”

Noting that it is the stand of the Congress to carry out a caste census, and the party is committed to it, Shivakumar said, “But what we are saying is – some legislators, leaders and people from the community are saying that houses were not visited for the survey, and the survey has to be done properly, in a scientific way.”

Shivakumar said for the benefit of their communities or castes, leaders are fighting irrespective of their party differences; similarly, Vokkaligas are also doing so.

“What’s wrong with it?” he asked.

On him being a signatory to the letter, he said, “Why shouldn’t I (sign)? Several Ministers have attended meetings (of their respective communities), I had also attended the meeting (of Vokkaligas). We had decided together. Keeping politics aside – it will be there within everyone – to protect the honour and pride of their respective communities.”