Karnataka: What is behind CM Siddaramaiah's bold move on caste census?
Siddaramaiah's decision to present the controversial caste census in cabinet and implement it, is seen as a last-ditch attempt to save his chair. Or, is it a noble move?
The unanswered question circulating in the public domain is this – Will Siddaramaiah really bring the controversial caste census report before the cabinet and go ahead and implement it? Will he be able to go against the wishes of two dominant communities in Karnataka and also flout the wishes of some of his own party leaders?
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's recent announcement that he will table the ‘controversial ‘Socio-Educational Survey, popularly referred to as ‘Caste Census’ before the cabinet, and initiate the process of implementing the recommendations, has triggered a furious debate in the socio-political circles of Karnataka.
And, both the Congress and the Opposition are anxiously waiting for Siddaramaiah's next move.
Champion of backward classes
Speaking to The Federal, HC Mahadevappa, the CM's close aide and minister for public works said, “Of course, he (Siddaramaiah) is aware of problems that may arise after accepting the report. Undeterred by the repercussions, he is determined to make the report public and implement its important recommendations."
Also, he added that Siddaramaiah's decision has nothing to do with the developments in the MUDA or Valmiki cases. "He is committed to release the caste census report and this is the national Congress Party’s commitment as well,” asserted Mahadevappa.
Siddaramaiah had publicly voiced his apprehensions over the consequences of releasing the report. "I may be haunted politically for some time. But, I won’t budge to these kinds of threats,” said Siddaramaiah in Mysuru recently.
The question now that is being asked is what has emboldened Siddaramaiah to present the report in the next cabinet meeting (scheduled to be held before Vijayadashami)? According to Mahadevappa, "The Congress high command backed Siddaramaiah on his decision and so did a group of OBC and Dalit religious heads, who offered him moral support. OBCs and Dalits still consider Siddaramaiah as their leader and will back him under any circumstances."
While CS Dwarakanath noted that no other political leader in Karnataka, except Siddaramaiah, has the courage to implement the significant recommendations of the Caste Census.
Also read: MUDA case: No question of resigning, I've done no wrong, says Siddaramaiah
Caste census to the fore
Nearly a decade after it was commissioned the caste census in Karnataka remained under wraps, as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah remained non-committal about its release and implementation.
Now, Siddaramaiah has taken the bold decision to bring the report before the cabinet and implement its recommendations. This has come shortly after Siddaramaiah failed to secure a stay from the Karnataka High Court on the governor's sanction allowing the CM to be prosecuted in the MUDA scam case. This has eventually led to an FIR being filed against him by the Karnataka Lokayukta and demand from the Opposition for his resignation as CM.
Wheels have started to turn within Congress with deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar meeting his one-time rival Satish Jarkiholi and home minister G Parameshwar. This development has raised eyebrows prompting the question: 'What if Siddaramaiah loses his chair?'