The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has formally demanded that the Karnataka government extend official language status to Urdu across the state, following the Karnataka Cabinet's recent decision to recognise Tulu as an additional official language for administrative purposes in Mangaluru and Udupi districts.

In an open letter addressed to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, SDPI Karnataka State president Abdul Majeed argued on Monday, 21 September 2026 that recognising languages, cultures and linguistic identities was fundamental to strengthening Karnataka's pluralistic and democratic traditions.

The Case for Urdu Recognition

Majeed cited 2011 Census data to establish that Urdu ranks among the major mother tongues recorded in Karnataka. He further pointed to the state's 2024–25 school education data, which lists 3,934 government Urdu-medium schools and 302 aided Urdu-medium schools currently operating across Karnataka.

The SDPI underlined Urdu's long-standing contribution to the state's literary tradition, print media, educational institutions and cultural heritage as grounds for its recognition. Majeed argued that declining student enrolment in Urdu-medium schools required urgent government attention, including the provision of adequate infrastructure, teachers and educational facilities.

The Tulu Precedent and Constitutional Backing

The SDPI's demand is explicitly framed around the Tulu precedent. The party contended that if Tulu — which has deep cultural and historical roots in coastal Karnataka — could receive additional official language recognition, the same principle should logically extend to Urdu, which has a significant speaker base and an established educational and literary presence in the state.

The party invoked Article 345 of the Constitution of India, which empowers a state legislature to adopt, by law, one or more languages in use in the state for all or any official purposes. The SDPI also cited Telangana as a model of multilingual governance, where Urdu has been recognised as a second official language.

What the SDPI Is Asking For

Beyond official language status, the SDPI urged the Karnataka government to protect the educational rights of linguistic minorities and ensure Urdu-medium schools receive adequate teachers, infrastructure and other state facilities. The party clarified that its demand was not directed against Tulu recognition, but aimed at ensuring equal consideration for the linguistic and educational rights of Urdu-speaking communities in Karnataka.

'Karnataka is a multilingual state and respecting the rights of one language should not become a reason to deny the rights of another,' the SDPI stated in its representation.

Political Context and What Comes Next

Majeed was careful to affirm that Kannada remains Karnataka's principal language and deserves its rightful constitutional place. He argued that recognising other languages spoken by substantial sections of the population would not dilute Kannada's status.

The demand arrives at a politically sensitive moment, as the ruling Indian National Congress (INC) government under Chief Minister Shivakumar navigates competing linguistic and community interests ahead of future electoral cycles. The Karnataka government has not yet responded officially to the SDPI's representation. Whether the Centre's language policy and the state legislature's appetite for a broader multilingual framework will align remains to be seen.