Caste census: Lingayats and Vokkaligas may adopt wait-and-watch approach post Cabinet discussion

The politically dominant, land-owning Vokkaliga and Veerashaiva-Lingayat communities, which have for long opposed the socio, economic and educational survey (caste census) conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes are expected to adopt a “wait and watch” approach on the outcome of the Friday’s Cabinet meeting, where the issue is likely to be discussed. It has been nearly a decade since the survey was completed.

The politically dominant, land-owning Vokkaliga and Veerashaiva-Lingayat communities, which have for long opposed the socio, economic and educational survey (caste census) conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes are expected to adopt a “wait and watch” approach on the outcome of the Friday’s Cabinet meeting, where the issue is likely to be discussed. It has been nearly a decade since the survey was completed.

Sources said that the “sudden” decision to bring the issue before the Cabinet, apparently nudged by the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, at the Ahmedabad Congress session earlier this week, had taken both communities by surprise.

This had made a coordinated response difficult immediately, said the sources.

Though in the past announcements were made by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that the survey would be discussed in the Cabinet, it did not happen, allegedly under pressure from his Cabinet colleagues from the dominant communities. However, the issue finding mention in the agenda, which became public on Wednesday, has taken many by surprise.

The Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha and Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha, which were vocal in their opposition to the earlier moves to bring the issue for discussion in the Cabinet, have said that they will wait for the outcome and then formulate their response.

The mahasabha had even passed a resolution opposing the survey data in its current form and termed it “unscientific.” Both communities have insisted on a re-survey.

While the survey was conducted during the tenure of H. Kantharaj in 2015-2016, the report was finally submitted to the government in 2024 by K. Jayaprakash Hegde.