The Karnataka Congress Government’s days are numbered. The tussle between CM Siddaramaiah & Deputy CM DK Shivakumar factions that started with a fifty-fifty powersharing agreement between the two in the state in May 2023 refuses to die down.
The latest being the social and educational survey, popularly known as the caste census, which is part of Rahul Gandhi’s agenda to clinch power at the centre. But the very same caste census is proving to be a hot potato for the state Congress leadership.
Now, after furthering Rahul Gandhi’s agenda for long, a section of ministers in Siddaramaiah’s cabinet is now seeking the postponement of the caste census beginning on Sept 22. These Congress leaders are objecting to certain caste names and the religious status of Lingayats. The survey has columns to fill, which include Vokkaliga Christian, Madiwala Christian, Brahmin Christian, Lingayat Christian, and others which is being objected to. They also argue that Hindu caste identity becomes irrelevant after conversion to Christianity and want those references dropped. They also dispute whether Lingayats should be enumerated as Hindus or as a separate religion under ‘others
But then, caste politics is not new to Karnataka and has been the pet political project of incumbent Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Since day one, when Congress came to power in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah has been voicing for his 2015 caste census even if it comes at the cost of division of the society. The 2015 caste census report was a fallout of a survey done by Siddaramaiah-led Congress when he was heading a state government in Karnataka way back 2015. Despite a strong opposition from a section of congressmen in the state, Siddaramaiah had pledged to implement the same report in Karnataka very soon, until Congress high command asked him to conduct a fresh caste census to get more accurate, better figures.
Major communities, Vokkaligas and Lingayats, had already put up a big question mark on Siddaramaiah’s caste census, terming it as totally unscientific and full of errors. Even Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga himself, sought re-conduct of a caste census in Karnataka in more proper and scientific manner. They also alleged that the census report has not enumerated their population correctly. Lot of war of words took place between both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar camps, with the latter questioning the veracity of the 2015 census. Finally, Siddaramaiah had to bite the dust with Rahul Gandhi favouring a fresh census, which now begins on Sept 22 and concludes on Oct 7, covering nearly seven crore people.
But with a section of Congress leaders yet again opposing the new census exercise is certainly now a good sign for grand old party in the state. A certain series of events in recent times too reveal that a section of Congress leaders are even ready to twist high command’s arm to fulfil their political goals.
Congress leadership, both at the Centre and Karnataka, was shocked when DK Shivakumar sang the RSS anthem in the state assembly, which was seconded by his colleague, Congress MLA H D Ranganath. But was this intentional? Certainly, Shivakumar knew about the consequences.
Similarly, cabinet minister Rajanna, a close confidante of Siddaramaiah, was suddenly dropped from the cabinet as he questioned Rahul Gandhi’s vote chori campaign. It is said that Rahul Gandhi called Siddaramaiah over phone seeking immediate action against Rajanna, resulting in the latter’s sacking. And if this was not enough, just recently Karnataka Minister G Parameshwara was at an ABVP event. These all are not just sudden developments but could be a calculated move of the few. Whatever their motives are but this certainly does not augur well for the Karnataka Congress government.
When Congress came to power in Karnataka in 2023. Though not officially announced, the undeclared arrangement between DK Shivakumar and Siddaramiah has been the formulae of rotation of chief ministership with each having a two and a half years term. If this holds true, Siddaramaiah is on the verge of completing his term and a change of guard in Karnataka is all but certain.
While Siddaramaiah & DK Shivakumar fight it for the coveted post in the state, governance is certainly missing in Karnataka.
