Panchamasali Quota Dispute Intensifies Challenges for Karnataka Government Amid Ongoing Allegations

Bengaluru, Dec 12 (NationPress) The Panchamasali quota dispute has intensified the challenges faced by the Congress-led Karnataka government, which is mired in a series of alleged accusations.

Despite the state government trying to maintain a strong front by defending police actions against protestors seeking quota for the Panchamasali Lingayat sect, insiders revealed that the party is genuinely concerned about the division within the influential Lingayat community.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah successfully steered the Congress to a simple majority in 2008, as the Lingayat vote bank was split between the BJP and the KJP parties, the latter founded by former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa.

In 2019, the Congress, under the leadership of Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar, secured a significant majority by capitalizing on the division of Lingayat and Vokkaliga vote banks. The Congress not only garnered votes from Dalits and backward classes but also received a substantial share from the Panchamasali Lingayat sect, which forms a significant part of the community's population. Additionally, the Vokkaliga community lent their full support to the Congress.

The demand for reservation for the Panchamasali Lingayat sect under the 2A Category gained prominence during the previous BJP administration. Kudalasangama Panchamasali Peeth seer Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swami spearheaded numerous agitations, protests, and even a padyatra from Basavakalyan to Bengaluru, along with conducting hunger strikes.

The Panchamasali Lingayat sect associates itself with the historic queen Rani Channamma, who valiantly resisted British rule and sacrificed her life. The community boasts a population ranging from 8 million to 10 million and primarily resides in the northern regions of Karnataka, largely relying on agriculture.

Community leaders argue that the Panchamasali Lingayat sect has not received representation commensurate with its population, as key positions have been allocated to other Lingayat sects.

The community has long sought inclusion under the 2A category to elevate their status to that of backward communities, which enjoy 15% reservation for various communities. Currently, they fall under the 3B category, which allows just 5% reservation in public sector jobs and educational institutions.

During the 2011-12 period, the BJP government led by B.S. Yediyurappa made efforts to include the Panchamasali community in the backward classes list. In 2016, the community petitioned the Backward Classes Commission, chaired by Kantharaj, to be classified under Category 2A. However, this request was denied during Siddaramaiah's tenure as Chief Minister.

The BJP government, under former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, reallocated the 4% reservation for minorities under Category 2B into newly formed Categories 3C and 3D for Veerashaiva-Lingayats and Vokkaligas, respectively, igniting widespread outrage. This government order was subsequently challenged in the Supreme Court.

As the case was scheduled for hearing, it coincided with the announcement of assembly elections, triggering the enforcement of the model code of conduct. Subsequently, the BJP government’s legal team requested no interim orders and promised a thorough argument in court at a later date. The Supreme Court then instructed that the order not be executed until the next hearing, with the BJP government providing an undertaking in this regard.

The seer claims that 16 MLAs belonging to the Panchamasali Lingayat sect, spanning across various political parties, were elected to the state Assembly. The recent events have caused the Panchamasali Lingayat sect to become increasingly “hostile” toward the state administration. The seer has repeatedly labeled Siddaramaiah as “anti-Lingayat,” while the BJP has expressed its support for the movement advocating for reservation.

Despite the Congress's apparent upper hand following their victory in by-elections amidst corruption allegations, they are worried about the consolidation of the Lingayat vote bank in light of the recent violent incidents, which are being portrayed as an “attack” on Lingayats.