Lingayats, Vokkaligas join hands, seek fresh caste survey in Karnataka

Bengaluru: Lingayats and Vokkaligas set the ball rolling for a joint fight against the contentious Social & Educational Survey (caste census), as leaders of both communities huddled Friday evening and decided to press for a fresh count of all households.

The office-bearers of the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha and Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha met at the residence of veteran Congressman and Mahasabha president Shamnur Shivashankarappa and decided to urge the Cabinet to do a resurvey.

The meeting is significant as the two dominant communities have come together for the first time after the caste census report was opened in the Cabinet on April 11. 

Both Lingayats and Vokkaligas have dubbed the report “unscientific” and accused it of “undercounting” their numbers. The report surveyed 5.98 crore people and found the Lingayat population to be 66.35 lakh (11%), while the Vokkaliga population was 61.58 lakh (10%).

They are worried that these numbers may undermine the decades-long hegemony of the two communities on Karnataka politics. These communities fear that any alteration in the reservation will also change the nature of local bodies.

The State Vokkaligas Reservation Struggle Committee President Auditor Nagaraj Yalachavadi told DH the two communities had decided to jointly oppose the current survey. 

“We will also take along other backward communities like Yadavas, Tigalas and so on that have been undercounted in this survey. Before the Cabinet, we will consult the religious heads of our respective communities and may hold 2-3 meetings about the further course of action,” said Yalachavadi.

Ministers from both the Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities are expected to attend these meetings and may articulate the positions of their respective communities in the upcoming Cabinet meeting, which is likely to be held on May 2, according to Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil.

Sources in the Mahasabha told DH that the leaders from the two organisations discussed their specific objections to the report and also shared data about their population. 

While the Mahasabha claims that there are over 1.3 crore Lingayats in the state, the Vokkaligara Sangha has pegged their population at 1 crore.

Veerashaiva Mahasabha leaders Shankar Bidri, Renuka Prasanna and Vokkaligara Sangha general secretary Konappa Reddy were also present.