Confusion over reservation among factors that hurt BJP’s prospects in ST-reserved constituencies in Karnataka

According to one BJP leader, the ST community could not reap the benefit of increased reservation. Also, days after announcing the increased reservation, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced inclusion of Talawar and Pariwar communities among STs. It meant that the community had to share the existing reservation with the new entrants without an increase in the reservation quota

Despite the BJP’s outreach to the Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Karnataka through an increase in reservation quota from 3% to 7%, which the party claimed was historic, the saffron party has drawn a blank in the 15 constituencies reserved for scheduled tribes (STs). Confusion over reservation and inclusion of Talwar and Parwar communities in the ST list is being seen as among the reasons for the defeat

While the BJP had won six ST seats in 2018, the Congress had won 8 seats and Janata Dal (Secular) 1 seat. In 2023, the ruling BJP faced a rout in ST constituencies while the Congress won 14 seats and one went to the JD(S).

Barring one ST reserved seat in Mysuru district (H.D. Kote) and another in Belagavi (Yemkanmardi), members of the Nayaka (Beda/Valmiki) community constitute a significant number of voters in Chitradurga, Ballari, Raichur, Belagavi and Yadgir districts.

Those considered as big leaders of the community, including Transport Minister B. Sriramulu, former ministers Narasimha Naik (Rajugowda) and Shivanagowda Naik, former Lok Sabha Member from Raichur B.V. Naik and S. Tippeswamy, lost the elections.

In their preliminary assessment, community leaders in the BJP believe that multiple factors worked against the party’s candidates.

“An important reason was the prevailing confusion over the increase in reservations for the community. The community could not reap the benefit of increased reservation. Also, days after announcing the increased reservation, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced the inclusion of Talawar and Pariwar communities among STs. It meant that the community had to share the existing reservation with the new entrants without an increase in the reservation quota,” a community leader explained, adding that this enraged the community whose members resorted to protests against their leaders in the BJP, such as B. Sriramulu in Ballari and Rajugowda in Yadgir.

Mr. Rajugowda said, “The added inclusion led to persons from these communities receiving ST certificates in many places. This did not go down well with the Nayak and other STs communities.”