Bengaluru, October 3, 2025
The ongoing socio-economic and educational survey in Karnataka, widely dubbed the "caste census," has ignited a fierce political showdown between the ruling Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with accusations of hypocrisy, minority appeasement, and constitutional overreach flying from both sides. Launched on September 22, 2025, the survey aims to gather data on castes, communities, and socio-economic status to refine welfare policies and reservation quotas, but BJP leaders have branded it a "divisive political stunt" and called for a statewide boycott.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah defended the initiative on Wednesday, emphasizing its role in promoting social justice and equality. "The survey will provide scientific data for reservations and government schemes," Siddaramaiah stated, slamming BJP's resistance as a revelation of their "true colors" and "Manuvadi mindset." He questioned whether state BJP leaders would similarly oppose the Centre's national caste census announced earlier this year, highlighting what he called their double standards.
BJP's critique has been unrelenting. State party president B.Y. Vijayendra clarified on Tuesday that the BJP is not inherently against a caste census but opposes the state government's version as a pretext for "political games" aimed at dividing Hindu society. "The Congress is sowing doubt among people... This is not about justice for backward communities but cooking a political meal for themselves," Vijayendra said, noting the survey's Rs 500-600 crore cost and lack of clear intent from Siddaramaiah.
Prominent BJP MP Tejasvi Surya escalated the rhetoric last week, urging citizens to boycott the survey, which he described as "politically motivated, unsafe, and unauthorized." Citing a recent Karnataka High Court ruling on procedural lapses, Surya warned of data privacy risks and potential misuse for electoral gains. Former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai echoed this, labeling the exercise "anti-constitutional and unlawful," accusing Siddaramaiah of fragmenting castes into over 300 sub-categories to safeguard his political future.
The controversy deepened when the state government, facing BJP-led protests, removed 48 Christian caste categories from the survey on September 24, a move critics like BJP MP Sambit Patra hailed as exposing Congress's "religious appeasement" agenda. Patra alleged the inclusions were designed to "snatch reservations from the deserving" by adding 26 new castes. Karnataka Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao countered that the survey remains on track despite court scrutiny, dismissing BJP's efforts as "unnecessary confusion" to derail data-driven policy-making.
Public sentiment on social media mirrors the divide. BJP's official Karnataka handle accused the government of collecting personal data for "political exploitation" while slashing welfare benefits, a post garnering over 1,000 views. Users like @neha_laldas decried related legislation mandating caste disclosure in cooperatives as regressive, while @mujifren speculated on broader national implications, warning of escalating reservations potentially reaching 85% and extending to the private sector. Others, such as @garvit_sethii, criticized the recurring cycle of surveys—referencing a rejected 2015 report—as "politics in the name of caste" that diverts from real issues like jobs and infrastructure.
As the survey gathers momentum amid sporadic boycotts and community mobilizations to ensure accurate population representation, legal challenges loom large. Community leaders are urging participation to reflect their demographic strength, but the row has already polarized the state ahead of future polls. With the national census underway, Karnataka's experiment could set a precedent—or a precedent for contention—in India's caste politics.
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