On June 3, simply earlier than stepping down as Karnataka chief minister to make manner for his successor, DK Shivakumar, Congress chief Siddaramaiah, one of many outstanding faces of OBCs, accepted the development of group facilities, hostels and different amenities within the state for 150 OBC teams at a value of Rs 71.85 billion.
Most of those amenities eliminated by Siddaramaiah are for his Kuruba OBC group, which constitutes the most important portion of the state’s backward courses (12% out of 42% OBC inhabitants). He described the approval as a preliminary train earlier than “granting the grant.”
Coupled with one other resolution shortly earlier than his resignation to just accept the Karnataka State Backward Courses Fee (KSBCC) caste survey report, it’s clear that Siddaramaiah intends to proceed championing the reason for OBCs, who stay the standard voting base of the state Meeting.
“The State Backward Class Welfare Division has thought-about the requests submitted by varied backward class organizations and establishments and has given preliminary approval to round 150 backward class organizations to assemble group facilities and pupil hostels at a value of Rs 7,185 crore,” the previous CM stated.
“This isn’t the ultimate listing of beneficiaries. Purposes submitted by varied backward castes may even be reviewed and grants shall be issued to them within the coming days. Kuruba group obtained extra grants than different communities because of the larger variety of functions submitted to the division,” Siddaramaiah stated on social media on June 11.
“Interim orders have been issued for building of group facilities and pupil hostels in Madiwala, Lingayat, Vokkaliga, Vesta, Barija, Gola, Jetty, Kumbala, Aras, Helava, Sabita Samaj, Appara, Ganiga, Kurhina Shetty, Harakki and Reddy communities,” Siddaramaiah stated.
altering of the guard
The Congress excessive command’s resolution to exchange the 77-year-old CM with the big-base Mr. Siddaramaiah and the 64-year-old occasion stalwart and Vokkaliga stalwart Mr. Shivakumar is unlikely to have an instantaneous impression, however could have an effect on the Congress’s roadmap and outlook in the long term.
Mr. Siddaramaiah is understood to have assist from non-Muslims in addition to sections of his personal Kuruba group, and these two communities collectively maintain vital affect in Karnataka’s 80 parliamentary constituencies (out of a complete of 224 seats).
In accordance with shut aides of the previous CM, the Congress management’s resolution to go for a altering of the guard got here as a shock even to Siddaramaiah himself. Siddaramaiah himself believed that his occasion wouldn’t upend the standard OBC system by changing the management of the dominant Vokkaliga group.
However Congress leaders softened the transfer by securing a key ministerial slot in Shivakumar’s new ministry for Siddaramaiah’s son Yashindra, 45. Mr. Yasindra is the clear successor and is alleged to have been pulling the strings throughout the authorities throughout his tenure, particularly relating to posts and appointments of senior Kuruba leaders.
Congress additionally inducted one other Kuruba minister, Virati Suresh, 53, an actual property businessman and shut ally of Siddaramaiah, into Shivakumar’s new 14-member cupboard. Yet one more Kuruba face is prone to be a part of the ministry as soon as it expands to its most variety of 34 ministers.
Siddaramaiah play
Mr. Siddaramaiah, who has diligently cultivated his credentials as a pacesetter of the OBC, Dalit and minority communities (AHINDA bloc) over the a long time, has turned down the Congress management’s supply to enter nationwide politics via a Rajya Sabha nomination, indicating his intention to stay on the middle of energy in nationwide politics.
“Mr. Siddaramaiah will not be a pacesetter who can avoid lively politics. Since he isn’t employed in any official place, he’s given the liberty to be a champion of the OBC trigger and social justice within the state, however this may trigger friction, particularly if he’s left unemphasized and sidelined within the Congress,” stated a celebration chief who was beforehand an affiliate of Mr. Siddaramaiah.
Throughout his two phrases as CM, Siddaramaiah was seen to have “compromised” on social justice points such because the caste survey he commissioned throughout his first time period from 2013 to 2018, within the face of resistance from Karnataka’s dominant group and the Congress management. The report notes that the core OBC inhabitants is round 70 per cent, and the KSBCC has beneficial an OBC quota of 51 per cent in employment and training, in comparison with the top of the Nationwide Convention. Presently 32%.
On Could 26, a recent caste survey report was submitted to Siddaramaiah by Madhusudan Naik-led KSBCC, days after the Congress management requested him at hand over the CM submit to Shivakumar, who has a set 42% of the OBC inhabitants.
“The truth that Siddaramaiah obtained the caste survey report earlier than resigning as CM suggests that there’s a transfer to get the caste survey report accepted by the brand new cupboard. Shivakumar has opposed the survey thus far, however the Congress management is in favor of it and there could also be a transfer to get it accepted,” a Congress supply stated.
The Congress tried to make up for a few of the obvious political lack of Siddaramaiah’s departure by appointing occasion veteran BK Hariprasad, who belongs to the small however politically necessary OBC Billabas/Idigas group. Hariprasad is also called a supporter of caste census.
Siddaramaiah, who surpassed former CM Devaraj Urs as Karnataka’s longest-serving CM in January this 12 months, appears to have clearly positioned himself as a champion of social justice, following the mould of Urs, who gave energy to OBCs, Dalits and minorities throughout his tenure.
“So long as I’ve breath, I’ll combat for social justice. My 4 a long time of political life have by no means been a mattress of roses, however at all times a path of stones and thorns. Many huge leaders have carried out many insidious plots to finish me politically,” Siddaramaiah had stated in an article he wrote to commemorate World Social Justice Day in February this 12 months.
