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Sources in the government told News18 that a subcommittee is likely to be set up to study and analyse the recommendations submitted by Jayaprakash Hegde, chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes
Chief minister Siddaramaiah had previously promised to implement the recommendations of the BC Commission report, but as soon as he made this announcement, he was faced with resistance from Vokkaligas and Lingayats — two politically influential communities in the state. (File image: PTI)
The contentious Social, Educational, and Economic Survey of Karnataka—commonly referred to as the “caste census“—was finally tabled before the state cabinet. But a decision on accepting it or not has once again been deferred. The issue will now be taken up on April 17 at a special cabinet meeting in Vidhan Soudha, Bengaluru.
Sources in the government told News18 that a subcommittee is likely to be set up to study and analyse the recommendations submitted by Jayaprakash Hegde, chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes.
It was also said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s strong push for social justice and greater reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) has prompted quick movement in Karnataka, with the state cabinet set to take up the survey as a key item in its meeting.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah had previously promised to implement the recommendations of the BC Commission report, but as soon as he made this announcement, he was faced with resistance from Vokkaligas and Lingayats — two politically influential communities in the state. It was also said that the AICC meeting in Ahmedabad and the displeasure expressed by the party high command in the delay in the report being made public could have forced the hand of the Congress in Karnataka to have tabled it on Friday.
It is learnt that at least five senior ministers belonging to the Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities, the two dominant communities in Karnataka, had earlier expressed their dissent to the CM against the report submitted by Hegde and Kantharaj.
Eshwar Khandre, senior minister in the Siddaramaiah cabinet and a prominent Lingayat leader, told News18 that some community leaders have sought to know whether this survey was conducted “scientifically”.
“Regarding the caste census report, there have been apprehensions by certain sections of society and community leaders that it may have been done unscientifically. I brought this to the notice of the chief minister, and he said now that this report has been tabled. We will study it and then take a call on it. Decisions will be taken to ensure no section will face injustice,” Khandre told News18.
Another senior minister, Santosh Lad, said, “The report has been tabled in the cabinet. In the meeting on April 17, the documents will be shared with the ministers. It is a voluminous report, and though we have a general idea, we will know the exact figures only when we have the report in hand.”
Lad added, “The draft that has been given by the committee will be analysed and discussed. Let the pros and cons be discussed, suggestions taken into account, and the apprehensions of people taken into consideration.”
Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi said that the report submitted by Hegde on March 1, 2024, includes two key sections—a social and educational survey and a comprehensive caste-wise population report.
He said the survey covered 1.35 crore households, comprising 5.98 crore people—representing 94.17% of Karnataka’s estimated population. Based on the 2011 census, Karnataka’s population stood at 6.11 crore. By 2017, the estimate was revised to 6.35 crore. That leaves nearly 37 lakh people—or about 5.83%—who were not covered in the survey or were left out.
In addition, eight volumes detailing caste characteristics and statistics have been submitted in digital format. Tangadagi said a total of 13 volumes cover social, educational, and economic data by caste. Overall, the report spans 30 volumes, including detailed district, taluk, family, and population data. A total of 50 books were submitted.
The Congress has time and again come under fire over the caste survey—both for delays in tabling the report and for repeatedly pushing back cabinet-level discussions on it.
The last time tabling the report was deferred, sources said, was on the advice of AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala. That suggestion reportedly came after deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar sought his intervention to delay the report, as pressure mounted from the state’s two dominant caste groups—Lingayats and Vokkaligas. Many leaders from both communities had threatened to agitate if the report was made public.
This wasn’t the only instance of the government dodging the issue. The Congress had earlier stalled it after a poor showing in the Haryana elections and then again during the Karnataka bypolls in November. Despite being ready, the report remained under wraps—avoided at every turn for fear of political fallout.
In 2020, the BJP government had appointed Jayaprakash Hegde as chairman of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes. But the findings remained unpublished until February 29, 2024, when Hegde submitted the final report in a sealed envelope to the Siddaramaiah government. At the time, Hegde said the report included recommendations on reservations in education and public employment, along with targeted welfare measures for backward communities.
It was expected to be taken up for discussion immediately. But with Lok Sabha elections looming, the government decided to hold off on any decision until at least July.
The origins of the current survey go back to H Kantharaj’s tenure as commission chairman. After his term ended, the data was considered incomplete. Hegde, upon taking charge, pushed to complete the work and submit a final report to the chief minister. This was done at a cost of around Rs 169 crore. The Congress had dismissed the 2015 caste data as “unscientific” and ordered the commission to rely on the new data under Kantharaj’s mandate.
But the report has not just sparked opposition outside the government—it has caused friction within the Congress itself. Ministers from the dominant Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities have openly opposed the report, with their respective community organisations petitioning against it.
Deputy CM Shivakumar, along with several Vokkaliga ministers, had signed a petition rejecting the findings in November last year. The All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, representing the Lingayat community, also demanded a fresh survey, citing leaked figures that reportedly show Dalits as the largest caste group in Karnataka—upending existing demographic perceptions.
At least five senior ministers belonging to the two communities have expressed dissatisfaction with the Hegde report.
In January, Deputy CM Shivakumar asked the Vokkaliga Sangha to postpone a planned meeting on the caste survey, warning it would “create unnecessary confusion”. Not long after, the government said the report would be discussed in the cabinet—only to push it back once again.
The Congress had made the caste survey a key poll promise during the 2023 assembly election campaign. But similar exercises in Bihar and Rahul Gandhi’s public call for a nationwide caste census have added to the pressure on Siddaramaiah—especially as he tries to walk the tightrope between political survival and keeping AHINDA support intact.
Karnataka, with a population of over 7 crore, has nearly 1,500 castes, sub-castes, and communities. The Lingayats and Vokkaligas are among the most politically influential. While the Lingayats claim to constitute 17–18% of the population and the Vokkaligas estimate their number at 14–15%, leaked data suggests both communities may be below 10%.
The numbers, if made public, could impact not just social standing but also access to welfare entitlements. The political stakes are high. CM Siddaramaiah, seen as the tallest AHINDA leader, belongs to the Kuruba community, listed under the 2A OBC category.
The Kurubas have long demanded inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list. The Lingayats, under the 3B OBC category with 5% reservation, are internally divided—especially the Panchamasalis, a major subsect pushing for 2A status.
Lingayats have BJP veteran BS Yediyurappa as their tallest leader. The Vokkaligas are represented by union minister HD Kumaraswamy, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar.
