Caste census: Haryana shocker puts Siddaramaiah's plan under spotlight

Bengaluru: The Haryana election result has amplified the focus on Karnataka’s Socio-Economic & Educational Survey, or caste census, and the political ramifications it may have for the ruling Congress here.

During its Haryana poll campaign, the Congress, including its top leader Rahul Gandhi, promised a caste survey to woo the OBCs.

“In Haryana, the BJP benefitted from caste-based consolidations,” senior Congress leader B K Hariprasad said, describing Tuesday’s result as “shocking”.

“Strong polarisation has happened. It became ‘Jat versus Others’. While Congress had strong Jat leadership, the BJP got the edge with their caste-based permutation and combination,” Hariprasad, who was in charge of Congress’ affairs in Haryana for three years, said.

The Congress’ shock defeat in Haryana may force Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to think twice before deciding to proceed with the 2015 caste survey findings. The dominant Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities are opposed to this decision. They do not want the findings to become public, fearing that their numbers will be shown less.

Hariprasad, however, said the state government must go ahead with the caste census “even if the skies fall”.

IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge, the son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, said it was too early to say if his party’s ‘caste census’ pitch failed in Haryana.

“We don’t know how different communities voted in different regions. We need to evaluate and take cautious steps,” he said.

Some feel that Congress’ caste census pitch might have yielded better results in Haryana had Karnataka taken a decision on its 2015 survey.

Siddaramaiah has announced that the report of the 2015 survey would be placed before the Cabinet meeting scheduled for October 18 for a decision. “Siddaramaiah is bent upon it,” former Assembly Speaker K B Koliwad said. “I hope he’ll implement it.”