The caste cauldron is heating up politics once again in Karnataka, with the two dominant castes — Lingayats and Vokkaliggas — expressing serious reservations about the caste survey ahead of its consideration by the cabinet on Thursday.
The caste census was carried out in 2015 under the supervision of H Kantharaj, who was part of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes.
A significant announcement regarding the much-discussed caste survey was made during the Jharkhand Assembly’s Budget Session 2025.
The manifesto includes the five guarantees, Rs 2,500 per month allowance for women, Rs 25 lakh lifelong health insurance for all, Rs 8,500 stipend per month for the educated unemployed youths, cooking gas cylinder at Rs 500 subsidised price, free ration kit, and 300 units of free electricity to all households.
The Waynad MP announced CWC’s unanimous resolution to conduct a nationwide caste-based census if voted to power in the Lok Sabha elections.
According to the data released by the Bihar government on October 2, Scheduled Castes make up 19.65 per cent and the Scheduled Tribes 1.68 per cent of the population of the state.
Following the release of caste-based survey data, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is likely to call a meeting of coalition parties to discuss further strategy.
The court, however, asked the state government to preserve the data collected during the survey with a warning not to release it for the public at any cost.
