A file photo of a team undertaking a survey for the caste census report in 2015. The two dominant communities of Karnataka, the Vokkaligas and the Veerashaiva-Lingayats, are opposed to the report, which was accepted by the government on Friday.
Ahead of a Cabinet meeting on Thursday where the contentious Socio-Economic and Education Survey (caste census) report is scheduled to be debated, the two dominant communities of Karnataka which are opposed to the report, the Vokkaligas and the Veerashaiva-Lingayats, are making their own parallel preparations.
Roping in former judge
The Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha has decided to rope in a retired judge to help formulate its response and understand the nuances in the report better. According to the mahasabha’s national secretary H.M. Renuka Prasanna, the outfit will seek inputs from the retired judge before the Cabinet meeting so that the mahasabha perspective can be expressed well.
He also said that the mahasabha will be conducting its own survey of the community members. “Independent of the caste census report being submitted to the government, we had decided to conduct a survey. Elections to the mahasabha at the district and the taluk level have just ended and once the whole process is completed, we will undertake the survey,” he said.
Gathering opinion
Meanwhile, on Monday, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who belongs to the Vokkaliga community, announced that he would hold a meeting of Congress MLAs from the community on Tuesday at his official residence.
“We will gather everyone’s opinion,” he said. However, he said that he had not yet studied the report in its entirety and is the process of understanding it. “Our idea is to hold broad-based consultation and come with a consensus in an effort not to hurt any sentiments,” he said.
The Veerashaiva mahasabha has also convened a meeting of legislators from the community on Wednesday. Later on the same day, a joint meeting of the mahasabha representatives with office-bearers of the Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha is likely to take place.
‘Make known stand’
Meanwhile, alleging that there is confusion within the government on the caste census report which is indicated by Ministers speaking in different voices, BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra has urged the government to make known its stand on the report.
“When the Chief Minister says one thing, the Deputy Chief Minister says another. Ministers M.B. Patil and G. Parameshwara give differing statements. There is confusion within the ruling party,” Mr. Vijayendra told presspersons in Bengaluru.
Published – April 14, 2025 08:34 pm IST
