Bengaluru:

A socio-economic survey report presented today has sparked a political controversy in Karnataka, although its contents have not been made public yet. The survey, ordered by the previous Siddaramaiah government in 2017, has irked the politically influential Lingayat and Vokkaliga castes, who now want it torn to pieces.

The Socio-Economic Survey report of 2017 was submitted today by Jai Prakash Hegde to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The OBC Commission Chairman reached Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru at 2.45 pm today, the last day of his tenure, and briefly met Mr Siddaramaiah before addressing the media.

“We have submitted the report. The CM said he will present it in the next cabinet and take a decision,” he said. The Chief Minister agreed and refused to comment further.

Sources said the findings could challenge the dominance of the Lingayat sect and the Other Backward Caste Vokkaliga community as the largest voting block in the state.

According to sources and reports published over the years, the survey has placed Scheduled Castes as the most populous, followed by Muslims. Next come Lingayats, then Vokkaligas and then other castes.

Therefore, the report has faced strong opposition. The reaction from Lingayat and Vokkaliga groups, who have described the report as unscientific, has made publishing the caste data fraught with risk.

Even state Congress chief and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who hails from the Vokkaliga caste, had earlier expressed his opposition. The BJP, dominated by Lingayat leaders, is also on the same page.

Karnataka BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal said, “This survey is not scientific. Lingayats and Vokkaligas are angry with this. We will oppose it. We will request the Congress government to go door-to-door and conduct this survey again.” We will accept it.”

Following criticism from Lingayat and Vokkaliga leaders of the Congress, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has suggested that the report be first discussed in the Cabinet. He promised that if there were discrepancies, legal advice and expert opinion would be sought.

Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil said, “I have no comment on the report or on the comments made by our colleagues. Everything depends on whether we accept it or not. We receive it. Can. We can.” Some time to study it. Anything can happen.”

During the survey, 54 questions were asked to 5,90,00,000 people from 1,30,00,000 families. The survey was first ordered in 2014 by then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Rs 169 crore was spent on the project.

Although the report was ready in 2017, it was not accepted due to technical glitches and successive chief ministers delayed accepting it.

Caste census in Karnataka is a delicate and complex issue. With the Vokkaligas and Lingayats raising the flag of rebellion, it is not certain whether the Congress government will be willing to publish it before the Lok Sabha elections.