Karnataka: Allegedly-Leaked Caste Census Findings Spark Discussions Ahead Of Lok Sabha Polls

On 29 February 2024,  Jayaprakash Hegde, chairman of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes (KSCBC) submitted the socio-economic and education survey report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The report, also known as the caste census, has intensified the political atmosphere ahead of 2024 general elections.

The census was commissioned by the Siddaramaiah government in 2015. The data collection was done by 1.60 lakh officials, majority of them were teachers. H Kantharaju was the chairman at the time of collection of data. ”..We've maintained fundamental aspects of Kantharaju report,“ said Hegde.

Meanwhile, alleged leaked findings from the report have sparked sharp reactions. Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA said that the report is unscientific and has displeased the Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities. He asked the government to redo it by conducting door-to-door surveys. 

Yatnal’s contention on door-to-door survey was echoed by Siddalinga Swami, the seer of Siddaganga Mutt, who said that no one came to seek his details for the survey.

Ruling Congress party is also divided on the issue. Laxmi Hebbalkar, a minister in the Siddaramaiah-led cabinet said that there is a discrepancy in the numbers of Veerashaiva-Lingayats as people have registered their sub-castes as castes separately.

Minister M B Patil also agreed with this contention. Shamanur Shivashankarappa, a Congress veteran who is leading Veerashaiva Mahasabha requested the government to commission a new survey.

Meanwhile, a memorandum by the Vokkaliga community and signed by D K Shivakumar, deputy chief minister and state congress chief was submitted to the chief minister. It seeks rejection of the report along with the data.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reserved his reaction to the report. “We don't know what is in the report. The government has received the report, it will be placed before the Cabinet, and will be discussed and decided there,"  said Siddaramaiah.

Shivaraj S Tangadagi, Minister for Backward Class Development rejected reports of discontentment in the government.