Amendments to caste list likely to address concerns

A day after several Cabinet Ministers took exception to the inclusion of “new castes” to the list of castes for the socio-educational survey, starting from September 22, the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes is learnt to be contemplating a change of format in the caste list.

While the Ministers, mainly belonging to Vokkaliga and Veerashaiva-Lingayat communities, had raised certain objections during Thursday’s (September 18, 2025) Cabinet meeting over the caste list being drawn, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is learnt to have told the Commission on Friday (September 19, 2025) to address the concerns on inclusion of “new castes”, which has turned controversial.

Sources in the government told The Hindu that amendments are likely to be made to the caste list in the software developed for the survey. “The controversial caste names in the list published are likely to be masked in the software. The option for members of these castes would be given to enumerate themselves in the ‘others’ column. It is a measure taken temporarily to ensure the survey takes off smoothly,” sources said.

Surjewala’s message

Meanwhile, Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala, who met Mr. Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday (September 19, 2025), told both leaders to continue with the survey by dropping “new castes” that have been included in the list, party sources said. He conveyed the message from the high command to continue with the survey by making changes to the list, sources said.

The inclusion of 331 castes/ sub castes (many Christian and Muslim sub-groups) have been objected to by the BJP, several caste organisations and Cabinet Ministers. The castes under question include Vokkaliga Christians, Kuruba Christians, Brahmin Christians and Lingayat Christians among others. Objections have been raised over inclusion of several Muslim sub-castes. One of the suggestions mooted was to club these castes under a new column called “converts”, it is learnt.

The commission is, however, learnt to have expressed reluctance to delete the names of these castes.

Interestingly, the Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha and Jagathika Lingayat Mahasabha have also appealed to their community members to enumerate themselves as “Veerashaiva-Lingayat” and “Lingayat” respectively under the “others” column for the religion. This was also raised during the Cabinet meeting on Thursday (September 18, 2025).

Several Ministers who took part in the meeting with the Chief Minister earlier on Friday (September 19, 2025), are learnt to have felt that the government could face embarrassment if the caste survey is halted at the last minute. However, some Ministers also pointed out that if the survey is continued in the current format, it could damage the party and embarrass the government.

Vociferous protests

Among Ministers present at the meeting included D.K. Shivakumar, H.K. Patil, Santhosh Lad, Byrathi Suresh and Shivaraj Tangadagi. Sources said that Mr. Shivakumar, M.B. Patil and Eshwar Khandre strongly opposed the inclusion of “new castes”. They said such additions can be made only after an anthropological study.

Those in know of the issue feel that the removal of these “new castes” from the list now could result in judicial intervention. “The 2015 survey has the data of these castes. Individual petitions had not been entertained then and petitions of only caste organisations had been accepted. Now, without providing the opportunity to be heard, if the caste names are missing, the aggrieved caste members could approach courts,” sources said.

Multiple attempts to seek a response from commission Chairman Madhusudan Naik and Member Secretary K.A. Dayanand failed.