NDTV Public Opinion: How Quota For Lingayats, Vokkaligas May Affect BJP

While the percentage of people fully supporting each aspect of the government's move has not exceeded 30, the percentage of those who partially support the decision is high and have a chance of converting into votes

The contentious issue of tweaks in the reservation policy made by Karnataka's BJP government -- shifting four per cent reservation available to Muslims in jobs and education to the politically powerful Lingayats and Vokkaligas -- is likely to bring the party a substantial electoral dividend.

NDTV's new opinion poll in partnership with Lokniti-Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) has found that only 33 per cent of people surveyed were aware of the new policy. The percentage of people fully supporting each aspect of the government's move has not exceeded 30 per cent. But the percentage of those who partially support the decision is high and have a chance of converting into votes.

The survey found that 45 per cent people show some support for the increased reservation for Lingayats, 37 per cent for Vokkaligas, 40 and 41 per cent for Scheduled Castes and Tribes. Twenty-three per cent people fully support the scrapping of quota for Muslims and still more, 25 per cent, partially support it.