24-04-2025
Karnataka dominant communities join forces to oppose caste survey report
The Karnataka Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha, the apex body of the dominant Vokkaliga community, is exploring an alliance with the Lingayat community's Veerashaiva Mahasabha to oppose the recommendations of the caste census report in Lingayats and Vokkaligas are influential and dominant in Karnataka's political landscape. They have been particularly instrumental for politicians during election two influential groups are now looking to jointly counter any attempts to implement the findings of the 'Social and Educational Survey Report,' which was presented to the state cabinet on April
Kenchappa Gowda, president of the Vokkaligara Sangha, confirmed ongoing discussions between the two communities.'We are in constant touch with Veerashaiva Mahasabha leaders. We are planning to hold a meeting, but the date has not been finalised yet,' Gowda told news agency PTI.A Veerashaiva Mahasabha office-bearer also echoed this sentiment, adding that the talks are focused on devising strategies to pressurise the government into reconsidering the caste census report.'The discussions are mainly to decide strategies to build pressure on the government not to proceed with the caste census report recommendations and to demand a fresh, free, and fair survey,' the office-bearer stated, requesting caste census report, which was presented to the Karnataka cabinet last month, has faced resistance from both the Vokkaligara Sangha and the Veerashaiva-Lingayat communities, two of the state's largest social groups. These communities argue that the report, after being commissioned ten years ago, does not adequately represent their interests and needs a thorough report, which was submitted to the state government by Jayaprakash Hegde, chairperson of the Karnataka Backward Classes Commission, has stirred significant controversy in the state. Following its presentation to the cabinet, a special meeting was called on April 17, where it was decided that the matter would be revisited at a cabinet meeting scheduled for May 2.
