**Siddaramaiah Stubborn Despite Cabinet Opposition to Caste Survey**
*Bengaluru:* Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah remains resolute in pushing forward his pet project—the socio-economic based caste survey in the state—despite stiff resistance from his cabinet colleagues.
After acrimonious scenes during the Thursday evening cabinet meeting, which extended late into the night, and intervention from AICC General Secretary Randeep Surjewala, Siddaramaiah has decided to proceed with the survey. The survey will be conducted by the Backward Class Commission of Karnataka.
During the cabinet meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil expressed concerns that the survey was causing confusion and damaging the Congress government’s image by dividing people along caste lines. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar raised objections about the survey questionnaire, noting that it had added over 331 new castes, many unfamiliar even within the state. He questioned the origin of these caste names.
Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil questioned the very necessity of the survey, warning that it might demean larger communities and negatively impact the Congress party’s prospects in the future. Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre also advised abandoning the survey, cautioning that it could provoke public backlash.
When Labour Minister Santhosh Lad attempted to defend the Chief Minister, M B Patil flared up in opposition. Social Welfare Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Muniyappa stepped in to try and calm tensions within the cabinet.
Facing unprecedented criticism from his own ministers, Siddaramaiah appeared taken aback and promised to reconsider taking a final decision after holding another round of discussions. However, despite further talks, no concrete resolution emerged.
Meanwhile, upon learning about the discord in the cabinet, AICC General Secretary Randeep Surjewala rushed to Bengaluru on Friday morning. He held separate meetings with Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar. Ministers who had opposed the survey on Thursday night chose to abstain from these discussions, stating that they had already made their position clear.
Nevertheless, Siddaramaiah remained firm, announcing that the survey would continue with some amendments. Speaking to reporters later, he emphasized that the Backward Class Commission is a constitutional body and the government could not direct its operations. He also highlighted that the survey would provide detailed information on the status of each community, enabling the government to introduce targeted welfare programs for the underprivileged.
—
**ST Status Controversy: Opposition to Kuruba Community Inclusion**
In a related development, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s move to recommend Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for his own Kuruba community is facing strong opposition from existing ST communities.
Leading the resistance, Valmiki community seer Prasannananda announced plans to organize mass protests against any effort to include the Kuruba community in the ST category. He argued that the present ST communities are already deprived of government facilities and that expanding the category to include Kurubas would further marginalize existing ST groups.
—
As this contentious issue unfolds, political tensions within Karnataka’s ruling party continue to rise amid differing views on caste-based policies.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/karnataka-cm-siddaramaiah-pushes-ahead-with-caste-survey-despite-cabinet-opposition