Special cabinet on caste census in Karnataka ends without any major decision

Minister Ramalinga Reddy, speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting, said that CM Siddaramaiah has asked ministers to give their opinion in writing.

A special cabinet that was convened to discuss the contentious Socio-Economic and Education Survey report, popularly known as 'caste census' in Karnataka on Thursday, ended without any major decision, official sources said.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reportedly asked his ministers to give their opinion in writing about the caste census. (HT_PRINT)

Minister Ramalinga Reddy, speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting, said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has asked ministers to give their opinion in writing or verbally before the next cabinet meeting.

Various communities, especially Karnataka's two dominant ones -- Vokkaligas and Veershaiva-Lingayats -- have expressed strong reservations about the survey that has been done, calling it "unscientific", and have demanded that it be rejected, and a fresh survey be conducted.

Objections have also been raised by various sections of society, and there are also strong voices against it from within the ruling Congress.

With strong disapproval from the two politically influential communities, the survey report may turn out to be a political hot potato for the government, as it may set the stage for a confrontation, with Dalits and OBCs among others demanding for it to be made public and implemented.