File photos of socioeconomic and educational survey conducted in Mandia.
As part of the socio-economic and educational survey, a lot of political heat has been generated by part of the population data for caste/subseeds in Karnataka. Although the main Vokkaliga and Veerashaiva-Lingayat communities have called the investigation “unscientific” and called for new investigations, the real fundamental fact is the community’s fear of possible changes in the political environment and power dynamics between local castes.
In most places, political dominance depends on the swing that certain castes have locally. The numbers that have been published now are likely to allow other backward classes (OBCs) to challenge the dominance of a community that is usually owned by land-owned Vokkaliga or Veerashaiva-Lingayats.
In ticketing allocation
“The feudal structures at the grassroots level may be shaken. If other castes come together, these traditional structures will also be under pressure. Political parties may also start to study the numbers carefully and distribute invoices,” said former Congress MLC PR Ramesh. “The significant political implication of published data may be that parties can try social engineering and justice when distributing invoices.”
The 2015 survey by the Karnataka Backward Class Committee puts Vokkaliga and Veerashaiva-Lingayat communities in dominance of state politics, with the total population of the state at 10.29 and 11, respectively, much lower than its claimed 13% to 15% to 15% and 17% to 17% to 22%.
The committee sources said that in the current backward class classification, of about 24 castes/550 subclasses in the state, the state lagged in the state, and the rest had no political representation in the parliament or parliament so far. Although many castes are represented in local bodies, there are still castes of any level that are not represented on any level.
No money, no numbers
“It has been observed that many castes do not have sufficient population or monetary power. Parties do not distribute invoices to leaders from such castes, which leads to a lack of representation. Leadership has not developed in such communities either.”
Acknowledging the fear of the change in the power structure on the ground, Akhila Bharatha veerashaiva Mahasabha Secretary HM Renuka Prasanna Secretary HM Renuka Prasanna said: “We are concerned that the same population data can be used to retain places. In the general category, this will reduce the chances of communities winning elections.
Demarcation practice
He also accused the demarcation activity, after which the state participated in a poll in 2008 to reduce the number of Veerashaiva-Lingayat legislators in parliament. He claimed: “Lingayad lawmakers retained the 24 constituencies that won, including in the Raichur and Ballari districts respectively.
Fear of Vokkaligas and Lingayats is still common, and Janata Dal (secular) Vokkaliga leader says it will automatically affect the power structure once the number of components that can be won is reduced. “In local institutions, the positions of presidents and vice presidents are also retained. If the number of winning wards is reduced, the total number of elected representatives in the community will also decrease. Claims for presidents or vice presidents become difficult.” He said that if the number of other castes is also large, political action becomes difficult at the local level.
publishing – April 23, 2025 07:50 AM IST
