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Karnataka Cabinet Defers Decision on Caste Survey Amid Calls for Data Clarification

Ministers to submit written opinions by May 2 as Vokkaliga and Lingayat leaders dispute findings and plan protests.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with his deputy DK Shivakumar. (ANI)
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah convened a special meeting of the state cabinet on Thursday.
Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah.
Karnataka minister Satish Jarkiholi.

Overview

  • A special Karnataka cabinet meeting on April 17 ended without consensus on the caste survey findings, with further discussions scheduled for May 2.
  • Dominant communities, including Lingayats and Vokkaligas, have rejected the survey as unscientific, alleging underrepresentation and demanding a fresh enumeration.
  • The survey reports OBCs at 70% of the population, with Lingayats and Vokkaligas at 11.09% and 10.31% respectively, figures significantly lower than traditional estimates.
  • Proposals to increase OBC reservations to 51%, alongside SC-ST and EWS quotas, could push total reservations to 85%, exceeding the Supreme Court's 50% cap.
  • Internal divisions within Congress have surfaced, with Dalit and OBC leaders supporting the survey while others warn of political fallout from alienating dominant castes.