In Karnataka, the release of a caste census report has become a bone of contention.
While the Backward Castes and Muslims demand its publication, the state’s dominant Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities oppose it.
In 2013, a groundbreaking caste census was conducted in Karnataka during Siddaramaiah’s first term as Chief Minister.
However, the release of the report remained dormant for years.
The release of this report could have significant socio-political consequences.
Leaked information reveals Scheduled Castes (SCs) accounted for 19.5% of the state’s total population, making them the largest caste group.
Muslims followed closely, constituting 16% of the population. Lingayats and Vokkaligas represented 14% and 11% of the population, respectively.
Among the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), the Kuruba community alone accounted for 7% of the state’s population. Overall, the OBCs constituted 20% of Karnataka’s population.
The leaked findings has upset the Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities, as the figures pegged their population to be much lower than commonly believed.
The Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities worry that their hard-earned opportunities in politics and education may be at risk if the report is released.
The May 2023 elections in Karnataka witnessed significant changes in voting patterns.
Lingayat voters shifted from the BJP to the Congress, while Vokkaligas, traditionally JD(S) supporters, divided their support between the Congress and BJP.
Responding to these shifts, Vokkaliga and Lingayat leaders in the Congress, including Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, are intensifying pressure on Siddaramaiah to withhold the report.
Will Siddaramaiah yield to political pressure, or will he choose to publish the report?
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