Chief Minister Siddaramiah has denied opposition within his own Cabinet to the Socio-economic and Education Survey report—popularly known as the ‘caste census’. On April 18, the CM reportedly said that the survey had been discussed on April 17, but as debates were still ongoing, the matter has been deferred to the next Cabinet meeting on April 24. “No one has opposed it,” he also reportedly added.
Further, the Karnataka government has said that a final decision would be made only on May 2.
According to various reports, pushback to the survey is coming from Lingayat leaders in the Cabinet who claim that the community’s numbers are misrepresented. On April 17, Lingayat ministers in the state government also held a separate meeting at Industries Minister MB Patil’s home.
Reports now say that Siddaramaiah intends to hold meetings with the Congress high command regarding the survey. According to TNIE, the CM is expecting some of his party leaders to meet with All India Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge to register their complaints against the survey.
Notably, during the April 17 meeting, Cabinet ministers were reportedly unwilling to have an open discussion regarding the survey, following which Siddaramaiah had asked them to submit their opinions in writing, even if it is a dissent note.