Belagavi: Leaders of the Vokkaliga community in Karnataka submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai Friday, seeking 12 per cent reservation for admission in educational institutions and government jobs in the poll-bound state.
Ministers and legislators from all political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have urged CM Bommai to increase the reservation quota from the existing 4 per cent under 3A category of the Backward Classes list.
Karnataka Higher Education Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan also said that Vokkaligas, a primarily farming community, has been steadily losing land due to urbanisation and industrialisation in the state.
“Currently, category 3A which represents 20 per cent of the population has been awarded only 4 per cent reservation. Out of this, the Vokkaliga community has been getting only 3 per cent reservation,” he said in Belagavi.
Vokkaligas are believed to account for nearly 14 per cent of the state’s population, making it the second largest community in the state, though there is no empirical data to support this claim.
Political parties depend on the support of individual caste groups during elections and Vokkaligas have consolidated behind former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S) in the Old Mysuru region where members of this community are found in large numbers.
The BJP and Congress have been trying to reach out to this community to better their own chances in next year’s polls.
“Previously, Shri Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji of Adichunchanagiri Mutt had submitted a similar memorandum. Now the ministers, MLAs and MLCs have made an appeal. All these will be sent to the Backward Classes Commission,” said CM Bommai.
Meanwhile, state Revenue Minister R. Ashok said it was a grave injustice that Bunts, Reddys and Kunchitigas (sub-sects of the Vokkaliga community) were not included in the OBC list and this should be rectified at the earliest.
The Panchamasali Lingayat and Maratha communities of the state have also been demanding higher reservation in the state under the 2A category. The communities recently held a show of strength by holding mega rallies opposite the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha where the winter session of the Karnataka legislature is being held.
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