Caste Equations, Impact On Congress’ National Plans - What Works In Favour Of Siddaramaiah
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has invited Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar for breakfast amid escalating power tussle, signalling both leaders’ deference to the Congress high command. “The high command has called both of us, so I have invited him for breakfast, and we will talk there,” Siddaramaiah stated, reaffirming, “I will accept whatever the high command says; there is no change in my stand.” Shivakumar echoed this, insisting he would follow party directives, as the crisis shifts to Delhi with potential summons from Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.
Caste Equations Fuel Leadership Rift
The feud pits Siddaramaiah’s Kuruba community—a key Other Backward Class (OBC) group forming 7-8% of Karnataka’s population—against Shivakumar’s Vokkaliga base (11-12%), alongside Lingayats (14-17%). Siddaramaiah anchors the AHINDA coalition (minorities, backward classes, Dalits), challenging the Vokkaliga-Lingayat dominance that long shaped state politics. His socialist agenda includes advocacy for Kuruba inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes list, enhancing his appeal among marginalised OBCs.
Shivakumar draws strength from Vokkaliga agrarian influence in Old Mysuru, bolstered by seers like Adichunchanagiri Mutt pontiff Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji urging his elevation. Caste blocs have issued stark warnings: AHINDA groups threaten repercussions if Siddaramaiah is unseated, while Vokkaliga outfits demand Shivakumar’s turn, invoking a purported 2023 power-sharing pact after 2.5 years. Leaked caste census data pegging OBCs at 20% has intensified mobilisations, framing the rivalry as Kuruba-led OBC versus Vokkaliga equations.
Congress insiders highlight governance erosion as paramount, with the tussle distracting from administrative stability. Siddaramaiah’s AHINDA credibility and MLA backing weigh heavily, as does Shivakumar’s organisational prowess vital for 2028 polls. Prolonged uncertainty risks legislator discontent and BJP exploitation, especially with Parliament and Assembly sessions looming. Syed Naseer Hussain, Congress Rajya Sabha MP, indicated a decision before the winter session, privy to 2023 details.
The Karnataka imbroglio threatens Congress’s national opposition mantle under Rahul Gandhi’s social justice banner. A Siddaramaiah ouster could alienate OBC voters, undermining guarantees that propelled the 2023 victory and echoing losses in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab. Shivakumar’s impatience carries costs, given his Vokkaliga-Lingayat sway (28% combined), but high command prioritises unity ahead of Kerala and Assam elections. Priyank Kharge noted the leadership’s “sense of timing” to avert spill-over.
Siddaramaiah benefits from mass appeal among SCs, STs, Muslims, and OBCs, positioning him as a bulwark against upper-caste dominance. High command values his national OBC face amid caste census pushes, denying any formal 2.5-year deal—his son Yathindra dismissed such pacts. MLAs’ loyalty and AHINDA warnings amplify his leverage, while Shivakumar’s Delhi meetings yield no immediate shift. Governance focus favours continuity, shielding the government’s welfare model from BJP barbs. Yet, Shivakumar’s machinery ensures his eventual role, testing Congress’s equilibrium.
