Congress government in Karnataka ready to accept its own caste survey

BENGALURU: The Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes plans to submit a “fresh” socio-economic educational survey — commonly called the caste census — to the Congress government in a bid to overcome “technical issues” with the original blueprint readied three years ago.

CM Siddaramaiah had commissioned the survey during his previous stint in 2013-18, after which BJP came to office. Successive governments have since refused to make the report public for various reasons, the main being that it allegedly “underestimates” the population of Lingayats and Vokkaligas, two politically dominant communities in the state. Leaders on both sides want the report to be permanently shelved.

State Congress leaders now say they will accept the report. Congress has been batting for a caste census across the country, while BJP has accused it of trying to divide people on caste lines, turning it into a key issue for next year’s Lok Sabha polls.

Siddaramaiah has said his government will accept the report, even if it means risking opposition from within his own team. The commission is expected to submit its report by November 20.