Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has denied reports of internal opposition within the state cabinet regarding the caste-based socio-economic survey, stating that the discussion remains inconclusive and will be revisited in the upcoming cabinet meeting.
Siddaramaiah dismissed media reports suggesting dissent among ministers, stating that no one opposed the survey or spoke aggressively during the cabinet meeting. He clarified that the discussion was incomplete and will be continued in the next cabinet meeting.
Earlier in the day, Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra criticized the Congress-led government over the survey, calling it “unscientific” and questioning its legitimacy. Vijayendra accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of lacking clarity on the issue and slammed the government for proceeding without a clear mandate. He also alleged that over Rs 150 crore had been wasted on what he termed a flawed and unreliable survey.
Vijayendra further claimed that several community leaders reported that no data collectors had visited their homes, questioning the accuracy of the survey. He demanded that the report be scrapped, suggesting that the Congress government may be more focused on creating divisions than delivering justice.
The special cabinet meeting on the Socio-Economic Survey concluded on Thursday, with Siddaramaiah asking ministers to submit their concerns in writing. The Karnataka government is likely to convene another round of cabinet discussions on the issue.