Caste Census: CM Siddaramaiah to hold key meeting on Oct 20

PTI, Oct 18, 2024, 8:52 AM IST

Siddaramaiah (credit: PTI / file)

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, firm on implementing the caste census report, is set to hold a crucial meeting with leaders from dominant communities this Sunday (October 20). The meeting will include ministers and MLAs from the Veerashaiva-Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities.

Meanwhile, the Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha has expressed strong opposition to the caste census implementation. A significant meeting has been scheduled on October 22 in Bengaluru by the Mahasabha to address the issue.

CM Siddaramaiah is considering bringing a key decision on the caste census implementation in the upcoming cabinet meeting later this month. To gain community leaders’ confidence, he has scheduled back-to-back meetings on Sunday. He will first meet with Lingayat ministers and MLAs in the morning, followed by a meeting with Vokkaliga ministers and MLAs in the evening. Both communities have already expressed opposition to the caste census report, making the discussions in the CM’s office highly significant.

Growing Opposition

The Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha has been vocal in its opposition to the caste census report’s implementation. National President of the Mahasabha, Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, along with State President Shankar Mahadev Bidari, recently met with former Chief Ministers Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai to discuss the potential impact of the report on their community. The Mahasabha is adamant that the report should not be implemented under any circumstances.

In response, the Mahasabha has organized a meeting at a private hotel in Bengaluru on October 22. Leaders have been invited to discuss the perceived shortcomings and impacts of the report, which the community considers unscientific. Shamanur Shivashankarappa’s leadership in opposing the report has generated interest, particularly given his senior position in the Congress party. The reaction of Congress’ Lingayat and Vokkaliga MLAs is awaited with much anticipation.

Panchamasali delegation to meet CM today

On a separate issue related to the 2A reservation demand, Panchamasali community leaders and MLAs are set to meet the CM on Friday at 11 AM.