BJP hopes to get electoral booster shot from reservation card

Bengaluru (IANS) | The Karnataka BJP camp is hoping to strengthen its chances by playing the reservation card ahead of the assembly elections in the state. Analysts say the BJP’s attempt to generate goodwill by increasing the quota for the two major groups, Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities, has been successful.

The Panchamasali sub-sect which had chosen the path of agitation and threatened to eat into the Lingayat vote bank for the BJP seems to have calmed down with the announcement. Panchamasali priest Vachanananda Swamiji said that the movement for reservation by the community has been successful in the first phase. However, the mutt is ready to agitate again to get reservation for the last person of the Panchamasali sub-sect.

The proposal to include Panchamasalis in the OBC list of the Central Government is with the Chief Secretary. The Center has sought opinion from the state government. The movement will continue on that front as well, he said. Basavajaya Mrityunjaya Swamiji, who led the movement for reservation for Panchamasalis, said he would discuss increasing the quota for Lingayats to 7 per cent and give his response later.

The ruling BJP has suffered several setbacks ahead of the elections. Retaining the Panchamasali votes in the Lingayat community was a major concern. The bishops have clearly stated that they will support those political parties which will help them to get reservation. Former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and the current CM Bommai failed to deliver on their promises and the community was perceived to be angry with the BJP. On the other hand, BJP faced further challenge as many leaders left the party to join Congress.

The reservation quota for Vokkaligas and Lingayats has been increased from 4 percent to 6 percent and 5 percent to 7 percent, respectively. Vokkaligas will get 6% reservation under 2C and Lingayats will get 7% reservation under 2D category. The 4 per cent quota reserved for Muslims under the OBC quota has been allotted to 2D and 2C categories.

The Vokkaliga community, which was given 4 per cent reservation under 3A category, has been given 2 per cent more reservation under 2C category. Lingayats were earlier given 5 per cent reservation under 3B category, now they will get 7 per cent reservation under the new 2D quota.

The ruling BJP had recommended increasing the reservation quota for Scheduled Castes from 18 per cent to 24 per cent in Schedule 9 of the Constitution. The BJP has taken a major decision to give reservation to 101 sub-castes under the Scheduled Caste category according to their population. The BJP has fulfilled a three-decade-old demand.

Congress’s Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala said that the BJP is adopting a strategy of deceiving the reserved communities in the state ahead of the elections.

The BJP is eyeing most of the 36 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and 15 for Scheduled Tribes in the state. With the election of Mallikarjun Kharge as Congress President from the state, the Dalits and the downtrodden are getting attracted to the Congress. However, the BJP is treading carefully on this issue.