Caste survey in Karnataka: Why Siddaramaiah could run into Vokkaliga-Lingayat hurdle

Though Siddaramaiah hinted that the report could get published in November, he knows it is no easy task, given the political ramifications it could have in the 2024 elections.

Karnataka's Social and Economic Survey – which is in essence a caste census – was conducted for the first time in the entire country during Siddaramaiah's first term as Chief Minister, in 2013. But it remained in cold storage till the results of Bihar’s caste survey became known a week ago, spurring calls for similar caste count all over the country.

If the Karnataka report is released, it is widely expected to benefit the ruling Congress because it details the numerical strength of various caste groups. But Vokkaliga and Lingayat leaders within the Congress are unhappy because they think it could take away their opportunities in many spheres.

According to information leaked from the caste count to the media, Scheduled Castes account for 19.5 per cent of Karnataka’s population, Muslims 16 per cent, Lingayats 14 per cent, Vokkaligas 11 per cent, Kurubas 7 per cent, other (other backward class) OBCs 16 per cent, tribals 4 per cent, Brahmins and Christians 3 per cent each, Buddhists and Jains 2 per cent, and others 4 per cent.

Real numbers

In other words, OBCs make up a total of 23 per cent (Kurubas and other OBCs), SCs or Dalits 19.5 per cent and Muslims 16 per cent. Put together, this forms a huge chunk – constituting of a major slice of Congress votes.

Already, the Congress vote base in Karnataka is said to be AHINDA (Alpasankyataru, HIndulidavarau, Dalitaru – Minorities, Backward Class and SCs/STs). Naturally, the Vokkaligas and Lingayats are worried that the political, and educational opportunities they have amassed over the years may be lost. Now, while the BC leaders are demanding the release of the report, Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities are up in arms against it. Besides leaders of the two communities from the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular), those from the two groups in the Congress are also putting pressure on the CM not to release the report, forcing him to have a rethink.

Although Congress sources say that Siddaramaiah is determined to release the report, political observers feel that this may not happen in the immediate future.

Lingayats, Vokkaligas

The May elections which ousted the BJP showed that large chunks of Lingayat voters rejected the saffron party and voted for the Congress. The Vokkaligas backed both the Congress and BJP this time although they were considered the support base of the JD-S.

This has reportedly made Vokkaliga leaders in the Congress, including Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, as well as Lingayat leaders to mount pressure on Siddaramaiah.

The Karnataka Rajya Vokkaligara Meesalathi Horata Samithi has come down heavily on Siddaramaiah for announcing the government’s decision to accept the Kantharaj Commission report on caste-based reservation in the state. Its president Ganam Srikantaiah said: “Vokkaligas are 16 per cent but the report puts it below that. Various commissions have left out some sub-sects of Vokkaligas.”

The Federal spoke to two ministers of the Siddaramaiah cabinet from the Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities, who said many community leaders are against accepting the K Kantharaj Commission report that prepared the case count.

Pros and cons

"If the report is accepted, then the political and socio-economic status enjoyed by the communities will be diluted. We will not allow this to happen," one of them said. The other minister, a BC leader close to Siddaramaiah, said: "It will be better to release the report after the Lok Sabha elections.”

Rame Gowda, a member of Vokkaligara Sangha, said a census is the responsibility of the Union government and so the report prepared in Karnataka is illegal. The caste survey was readied in 2016 but Siddaramaiah did not release it then due to political considerations. Chief Ministers who succeeded him also ignored the report.