JOIN USMinority tag: Siddaramaiah takes calculated risk ahead of polls
The move is aimed not only at pleasing Lingayats, who were considered traditional BJP supporters, but to ensure split in the community, which is said to be the largest in terms of population. But the million dollar question is: Will Siddaramaiah, who has been entrusted with the responsibility of bringing the party back to power, succeed in his game plan?
A section of leaders within the ruling party are skeptical about achieving these goals. They fear that the move may backfire as people can see through the political motive behind it. The Opposition parties, especially the BJP, have been accusing Siddaramaiah of dividing the community as Lingayats and Veerashaivas.
Siddaramaiah has gone ahead with the controversial decision despite resistance by some Cabinet colleagues. Horticulture Minister S S Mallikarjun and Minister for Municipal Administration Eshwar Khandre have publicly disagreed with the recommendation of the government-appointed expert committee report on the issue. Many senior leaders are also against it. The confusion within the party on the issue may turn out to be a spoilsport, some Congress leaders said.
Moreover, the manner in which the government has recommended the separate religion/minority tag is not likely to benefit the community people much as far as reservation in education and employment is concerned. All Lingayats are currently getting 5% reservation under category 3B and quantum of reservation will remain the same even after securing the minority religion tag. Unless the reservation categories are re-organised, the quantum of reservation cannot be increased. And the government has no such proposal, the leaders said.
"Lingayat ministers who spearheaded the separate religion movement had tried to gather public support by dangling the reservation carrot. But, in reality, it is only the educational institutions owned by Lingayats that are going to benefit. The Congress will be at a loss to explain if Opposition parties raise this issue," the leaders said.
However, leaders who are in favour of the decision argue that the Congress will stand to benefit despite drawbacks. The Congress ministers, especially M B Patil and Vinay Kulkarni, have managed to gather the support of a large section of the community in favour of a separate religion during the last few months. These people are upset with B S Yeddyurappa of the BJP for not supporting their cause, they say.