BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have sensitised their respective communities -- Kurubas and Vokkaligas -- on the Socio, Economic and Educational Survey (popularly known as caste census) that the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes started on Monday. The move is to consolidate their positions if there is a transfer of the chief minister’s post.
Siddaramaiah has been quite visible, attending all the events organised by Kurubas, while Shivakumar has assured Vokkaligas that their interests would be safeguarded through a “special strategy”. Vokkaliga religious heads too have thrown their weight behind him. A reconciliation between Shivakumar and his archrival and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy at the Vokkaliga meet convened by Adichunchanagiri Mutt seer Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji gave enough indication that the community is putting up a united front.
This could come in handy in November, when Siddaramaiah completes two-and-a-half years in office and when the power sharing issue is likely to crop up, analysts said. But the report on the present survey will only be presented by the Backward Classes Commission a month later in December. The commission’s report is likely to include reclassification of OBC quota based on the caste census data.
The CM has been pushing for his community to be included in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list. He sent a proposal to the Centre in July 2023, but it was rejected for various reasons. At his behest, the ST Welfare Department held a meeting to discuss the issue and send a fresh proposal to the Centre.
After the H Kantharaju commission’s report, K Jayaprakash Hegde, as the Backward Classes Commission chief, recommended shifting Kurubas from the backward classes category (2A) to the most backward (1B). Siddaramaiah was ready to implement it, but Shivakumar allegedly managed to scuttle it and got the Kantharaju commission report ‘scrapped’ ensuring the fresh survey.
All these efforts may pay off, and Kurubas could stand united behind Siddaramaiah to continue as CM post, while Vokkaligas may pitch for the change of guard, seeking the top post for Shivakumar.
Kurubas are considered the fourth-largest community in the state with a population of 43.72 lakh (7.3%), as per the Kantharaju commission survey held in 2015. Vokkaligas are third largest at 61.6 lakh (10.3%). But community leaders assert that if all sub-castes are combined, they constitute 14-16% of the population.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are leaving for Patna on Tuesday to attend the CWC meeting, scheduled for Wednesday. It is to be seen if they will discuss caste census with the party leadership on the sidelines of the meeting.