Karnataka caste survey widens Congress rift, allegation of ‘preferential treatment’ for Siddaramaiah’s Kuruba community

The Karnataka caste survey report that was placed before the state Cabinet on April 11 has estimated the population of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the state to be 69.6%, which is 38% more than existing estimates.

The population of Vokkaligas and Lingayats, who enjoy reservation under the III A and III B categories of the state’s OBC reservation, were found to be 12.2% and 13.6%, respectively. This is much lower than their general estimated population of 17% and 15%, respectively. The caste survey report has recommended a 4 percentage point increase in the quota under the II B category, paving the way for a 3 percentage point increase in reservation benefits for Vokkaligas and Lingayats.

While the caste survey report does heed to the increased quota demand of the dominant OBC communities, it has set off a worry. Some leaders feel that the political representation of the communities could take a hit going forward, especially at the time of ticket allocation, due to the population numbers presented by the survey.

For the Congress, this is a tricky situation as it would not want to alienate these communities that have dominated Karnataka politics for decades now.

Of its 136 MLAs in the 224-member state Assembly, 37 are from the Lingayat community while 23 are Vokkaligas. The party had fielded as many as 51 Lingayat candidates in the 2022 Assembly polls.

“Almost half (44.11%) of our MLAs are from these communities. They have huge political representation now. So, they are worried,” said a Congress leader.

Another party leader said the belief that Lingayats were higher in number has been “punctured”. “The report has also suggested an increase in quota for them (Vokkaligas and Lingayats)… So, there is no injustice to them,” the leader added.

Another point from the survey that is facing opposition is the increase in quota of 7 percentage points — from 15% to 22% — for the II A category that currently includes communities such as Kurubas to which CM Siddaramaiah belongs.

The Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes has additionally recommended the creation of a new Most Backward Classes (MBC) category, called I B, to be carved out from the II A category. Communities such as Kurubas, who were earlier in II A, have reportedly been recommended for inclusion in the new category with a 12% quota. The II A category itself will have a reduced quota of 10%.

A senior state Congress leader charged that Kurubas were being given preferential treatment. “The caste survey report has recommended the creation of a new Most Backward Classes category, I B, which is to be carved from the II A category. Kurubas are being included in this new category. And a 12% quota is being recommended for this category. All the benefits will be cornered by Kurubas. On the other hand, the II A category will have a reduced quota of 10 percent. This is a huge anomaly… and a mischievous act by Siddaramaiah,” he said.

“It is unheard of. After quota benefits for years, the most backward are supposed to become slightly less backward and so on… It cannot be the other way around,” another Congress leader said.

A party leader claimed the data on the basis of which the report was prepared was “old”. “The survey was conducted way back in 2015. The government should collect fresh data and appoint a committee headed by a former Supreme Court judge and redraw the reservation architecture scientifically,” he said. “I don’t think this report is implementable… There will have to be major tweaks.”

These varying views from within the Karnataka Congress come at a time when Gandhi has been sending unambiguous signals that the party will vigorously reach out to the OBCs, Dalits and tribals for an electoral comeback. Gandhi has been consistently speaking about Telangana, which recently became the first state in the country to implement the SC sub-categorisation after conducting a caste survey.

At the national level too, a section of the Congress leaders, particularly those from the upper castes, are not very happy with Gandhi’s aggressive OBC push.