The Congress government in Karnataka considers announcing reservation for the backward classes in the cooperative sector just before the next parliamentary election in a bid to garner votes. Chief Minister Siddaramaih virtually said this much when speaking before a recent conference of backward classes near Bangalore.
Sources say the Karnataka chief minister has kicked up a political controversy through this announcement. The move would cause polarization in the state along the caste lines, sources warn.
Experts are of the view that giving representation to women and SC/STs is one thing but introducing caste-politics in cooperatives is bound to be counter-productive. They point out at the magnanimity of the cooperative movement which attracts politicians of all hues to work together.
There are reports that the two dominant upper castes Lingayats and Vokkaligas are already up in arms about the chief minister’s caste-based populism. Some upper caste leaders have even described Siddaramaih as a recidivist who is once again at work roiling the state politics with an errant divisive issue.
Political observers say Siddaramaih has fallen for his old ploy because he thinks it will rebound to his considerable political advantage. However, given the line-up of forces opposed to him including a significant portion of his own party, his trick may not work as he wants, observers assert.