Karnataka caste census: Special Cabinet meeting on Thursday

Bengaluru: The caste census is back in the reckoning as a special Cabinet meeting on Thursday (June 12) is expected to comprehensively discuss the contentious social and educational survey (caste census) report.

The decision assumes significance as it comes days after the Union government set the time frame for the nationwide decadal census, which will include a caste enumeration for the first time since 1931. 

Sources in the Congress, however, said the decision had nothing to do with the national enumeration.

While the caste census is a pet project of top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, it has been vehemently opposed by the dominant, landowning Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities, which accuse the report of being "unscientific" and "undercounting" their numbers. 

After it was opened from a sealed cover in the Cabinet on April 11, 2025, the report has been discussed in three of the five Cabinet meetings since then, but no concrete decision has yet been taken. 

Ministers’ opinions

DH has reliably learnt that following Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s diktat to provide their opinions in writing, most ministers have already submitted the same. 

Sources said discussions in the special Cabinet would revolve around the arguments of different ministers, with a final decision expected on the majority opinion. 

While most ministers are said to have backed the report, a few from the Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities have raised concerns, with Mining Minister S S Mallikarjun being one of the most vocal dissenters, the sources said,

"Once the Cabinet decides on it, they will convey the decision to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The final decision will be based on the AICC’s instructions,” a source said.

A minister told DH that the Cabinet was likely to take a concrete decision in Thursday’s meeting.

Why now?

There have also been arguments that the report is being brought back to the fray as a "diversionary tactic" to shift the focus from the June 4 stampede in Bengaluru, which took away 11 lives.

"What’s the use of mere special Cabinets if decisions aren’t taken? It doesn’t look like the government is keen on either caste census or internal reservation. Rather, both are being used time and again as diversions from other issues," said a senior Congress leader, who wished not to be quoted.

The government may either form a Cabinet sub-committee to further study the report and provide recommendations. Or else, the report may also be placed before the legislature, where a legislative committee may be formed.

The sources, however, said it was unlikely that the report will be placed before the legislature.