When was the survey conducted?
The Kantharaju Committee conducted the caste census under the banner of the Socio-Economic and Education Survey during Siddaramaiah’s first tenure as the chief minister. This survey was conducted from April 11, 2015, to May 30, 2015. In this period, around 1.36 lakh teachers interviewed approximately 1.01 crore people and collected data on nearly 6 crore individuals, leaving out around 37 lakh. Even CM Siddaramaiah, in his post on X, said this survey is 95% accurate.
What does the alleged leaked survey say?
The survey said Muslims as a caste have emerged as the single largest community in the state. With a population of 76 lakhs. they constitute 12.83% of the state’s total population.
Interestingly, presumed economically and numerically dominant castes like Vokkaligas and Lingayats showed significantly lower population percentages.
Which community stands where?
As per the survey,
• Muslims, with a population of 76,76,247, stand at the top.
• Lingayats (including all sub-castes and Veerashaiva Lingayats) are the second-largest community with 66,35,233 members.
• Vokkaligas (including all sub-castes) stand at 61,58,352 people.
• Scheduled Castes (SCs), when combined, reach nearly 1.09 crore — making them the largest block in total.
Caste and sub-caste-wise population
If we look at the caste and sub-caste-wise divide, the Vokkaligas from Old Mysore region are in second with 50,65,642 (8.47%), followed by,
• Kurubas: 44,11,758 (7.38%)
• SC (Left): 35,99,895 (6.02%)
• SC (Right): 34,98,188 (5.85%)
• ST Valmiki-Nayaka: 30,31,656 (5.07%)
• A powerful caste like Lingayats has dropped to the seventh position with only 30,14,696 (5.04%) population, followed by:
• SC (Others): 19,82,011 (3.31%)
• Veerashaiva Lingayats: 17,88,279 (2.99%)
Other Lingayat sub-communities were voluntarily recognised separately
• Panchamasali Lingayat: 10,71,302 (1.79%)
• Saadar Lingayat: 2,55,456 (0.43%)
• Nonaba Lingayat: 1,61,168 (0.27%)
• Jangama Lingayat: 94,282 (0.16%)
• Lalagonda Lingayat: 29,280 (0.05%)
• Beda Jangama Lingayat: 24,127 (0.04%)
• Ganiga Lingayat: 23,483 (0.04%)
• Kuruhinashetty Lingayat: 8,325 (0.01%)
Vokkaliga sub-castes
• Kunchitiga Vokkaliga: 73,977 (0.12%)
• Hallikar Vokkaliga: 30,265 (0.05%)
• Reddy Vokkaliga: 24,059 (0.04%)
• Dasa Vokkaliga: 17,961 (0.03%)
• Marasu Vokkaliga: 5,794 (0.01%)
SC sub-castes were listed separately
• SC (Lambani): 13,96,909 (2.34%)
• SC (Bhovi): 12,12,530 (2.03%)
• ST (Others): 7,92,808 (1.33%)
Out of 167 castes in the state, Brahmins dropped to 10th position with a population of 17,83,427 (2.98%).
Other prominent communities include:
• Maratha: 16,15,667 (2.70%)
• Uppara: 8,15,648 (1.33%)
• Reddy: 7,11,377 (1.19%)
• Ganiga: 7,02,379 (1.17%)
• Madivala: 6,58,887 (1.10%)
• OBC(Others): 17,68,688 (2.96%)
• Devanga: 6,30,691 (1.05%)
• Tigala: 3,28,902 (0.55%)
• Besta: 12,70,044 (2.12%)
• Vishwakarma: 10,88,385 (1.82%)
• Golla: 9,76,641 (1.63%)
• Kshatriyas: 4,12,690 (0.68%)
• Gowdas: 4,12,690 (0.68%)
• Bunts: 3,25,718 (0.54%)
• Kumbara: 4,43,492 (0.74%)
• Arya Vaishya: 4,66,769 (0.78%)
Other minorities
• Christians: 8,61,416 (1.44%)
• Jains: 4,19,375 (0.70%)
According to the 2011 Census, the state’s population was 6.11 crore, but the Kantharaju Committee estimates this number as 6.5 crore.
Recommendations of the committee
The committee, headed by former Congress MP Jayaprakash Hegde, has made a few important recommendations based on caste and community data. These include:
• Increase reservations according to population
• Increase the reservation for Muslims from 4% to 8%
• Raise Category 3(A) reservation from 4% to 7%
• Raise 3(B) reservation to 8% from the current 5%
• Increase Category 1 reservation from 4% to 6%
• Increase 2(A) reservations to 22% from 15%
If these recommendations are implemented, the state’s total reservation — including SC and ST — will far exceed the 50% ceiling, and if EWS 10% is added, it will cross the 80% mark.
However, the question regarding the wide acceptability of the survey report remains. Many people from Karnataka are taking to social media and expressing grievances that no one visited their house to conduct the survey. In fact, senior Congress leader and Veerashaiva Mahasabha head Shamanur Shivashankarappa himself said no one visited his house for the survey. Another Congress MLA Ravi Ganiga added that no one came to his house.
Not only Lingayat numbers, even Vokkaligas, Brahmins, SCs, Reddys, and Yadavs are questioning the government’s intent and honesty in conducting the survey.
Opportunity for CM Siddaramaiah
Ahinda consolidation — the grouping of minorities, backward classes and Dalits — is the biggest strength of CM Siddaramaiah. In fact, due to his Ahinda backing, Siddaramaiah left the JD(S) party of Deve Gowda and emerged as the undisputed leader of Alpasankhyata (minorities), Hindulida (backward classes), and Dalits.
In fact, Siddaramaiah is the only leader who can make Karnataka Congress win at least 100 seats without any support from upper castes like Lingayats, Brahmins, or Vokkaligas. In an ideal situation, if he brings cent percent Ahinda voters together, he can achieve a majority in the state assembly for the Congress.
Even the survey suggests the same. It says Muslims (76,76,247), Scheduled Castes (1,09,29,347), Scheduled Tribes (42,81,289), CM’s own caste Kurubas (44,11,758), Christians (8,61,416) — together constitute almost 46% of the state’s population. If other small and backward castes are included, it easily crosses the 50% mark.
Challenges for CM Siddaramaiah
Ideally, this caste survey should help Siddaramaiah in consolidating Ahinda votes. But in reality, the way this survey has been handled in haste may hamper Congress’s prospects in the state for a long time.
The state government is already under pressure due to price rise, law and order issues, lack of development, serious corruption allegations, and more. Many Lingayat and Vokkaliga MLAs and ministers are facing agitation from their core voters. In fact, Lingayat seers are demanding that more than 30 respective Congress MLAs resign and join the protest.
Rambhapuri Shri of Veerashaiva Lingayat Panchapeetha has already denounced the survey and said the Mutt, will conduct an independent survey of Lingayats. Even the Shreeshaila Jagadguru has rejected the survey. State Industry Minister MB Patil has claimed that Lingayats are more than one crore in the state.
Senior Congress leader and six-time MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa has issued a warning to the state government, saying, “We Lingayats and Vokkaligas will not allow this government to function.”
Even the State Vokkaliga Sangha has expressed the same sentiments. State President Kenchappa Gowda also rejected the survey report and said they will join the Lingayats in fighting against this survey.
Brahmins, STs, Yadavs, and Reddys have also echoed similar sentiments. There is fear among certain Congress leaders that this may lead to reverse consolidation.
