ST quota: Why Congress and BJP are wary of raising the pitch in Karnataka

Political considerations are believed to have forced leaders from Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the ruling Congress and as well as the opposition BJP into silence over the issue of reservation, despite the Karnataka government deciding to revert to the old reservation formula with reduced quantum, from 7% to 3%.

Shadow of tussle

A senior government functionary blamed the leadership tussle in the Congress between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar for, what he called, a ‘muted response’ by the Congress. Nayaka leaders — PWD Minister Satish Jharkiholi and former Minister K.N. Rajanna — have not said much in public on the issue. Sources said that the leadership issue is preventing the government from convening a meeting of community leaders, out of fear that it would be construed as yet another ‘faction meeting’.

The only visible move of the State Government was when the Chief Minister handed over an 18-point memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which included a demand to include the 56% reservation in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution.

Earlier this week, a delegation led by Congress leader V.S. Ugrappa met the Chief Minister urging him to get the stay vacated in Karnataka High Court besides convene an all-party meet, and take a delegation to Delhi to get the 2022 legislation inserted in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution.

Competing interests

The issue seems to have divided opinions in the BJP that is stuck between competing interests. Interestingly, it was during the BJP regime that the law to increase reservation was passed. A proposed BJP rally from Chitradurga to Bengaluru in the third week of March to protest the government’s decision was called off. The saffron party is believed to be cagey about the NDA-led Centre being forced to include the increased reservation of 56% in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution.

“Several ‘upper’ caste groups are opposed to increasing reservation beyond the 50% cap. If reservation for SCs and STs have to be implemented in proportion to their population and still maintain the 50% cap, reservation for OBCs will have to be cut, which is why they are opposed to it,” a senior BJP leader explained.

When questioned about inclusion in the 9th Schedule, another senior leader said that the question does not arise. “There are multiple States in the country where reservation levels have breached the 50% cap, and accepted by the courts. In Karnataka, the hike is clearly based on data, but the State government has failed to argue its case well in the High Court of Karnataka,” a BJP leader said, adding that the party is likely to finalise dates for a padayatra shortly.

(Concludes)