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News18
3 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Congress's OBC Panel Bets Big On Caste Census Narrative, Siddaramaiah At Bengaluru Meeting
Calling Rahul Gandhi a 'Nyaya Yoddha', the OBC Advisory Council passed a 3-point resolution that the Congress hopes will define its social justice pitch ahead of the Bihar polls The All India Congress Committee (AICC)'s OBC Advisory Council meeting in Bengaluru on Wednesday saw some major messaging—both ahead of the Bihar elections and as a strong show of support for Siddaramaiah as Karnataka's chief minister. By the end of the one-and-a-half-day meet, the message was loud and clear: the Congress wants to reclaim its Other Backward Classes (OBC) base, push the Centre for a caste census, and back Rahul Gandhi's 'jitni aabadi, utna haq" (rights proportionate to population) campaign. Calling Rahul Gandhi a 'Nyaya Yoddha" (Justice Warrior), the council passed what's now being referred to as the Bengaluru Declaration—a three-point resolution that the party hopes will define its social justice pitch in the run-up to the Bihar polls. The most significant demand in the Bengaluru Declaration was a national-level caste census, to be conducted officially by the Census Commission of India (ORGI). The council said the exercise must go beyond enumeration and include social, economic, educational, employment, and political details, using the Telangana Socio-Educational-Employment-Economic-Political-Caste (SEEEPC) survey model as a reference. Siddaramaiah reminded delegates that Karnataka had already carried out a similar survey under the Kantharaju Commission, initiated in 2015 during his first term and submitted only in 2024. It has since been pushed into cold storage, dismissed as 'dated". But the Congress government has now ordered a fresh survey, expected to be completed by October this year. 'There must be a fight for 75% reservation or proportional representation based on actual data," Siddaramaiah told the leaders. 'We must demand political representation and economic justice—including reservation in private sector jobs, promotions, contracts, schemes, and market access." The second resolution called for breaking the 50% cap on reservations, echoing Rahul Gandhi's statement last year that the ceiling is 'arbitrary" and an obstacle to justice. Gandhi has publicly committed to removing the ceiling through legislation, calling it 'necessary to protect the Constitution". The council also backed Gandhi's criticism that the history of Dalits and backward communities is being erased from school textbooks. Leaders agreed that states must support his push if the Congress wants to 'grow and survive". The third resolution called for enforcing reservation in private educational institutions as per Article 15(5) of the Constitution. Siddaramaiah also used the platform to hit out at the BJP and the Sangh Parivar. 'They polarise India through caste. We will unite India through the Constitution. They treat OBCs as mere symbols. We uplift them as equals," he said. 'Every time the Congress brings in a policy for justice, the BJP resists it, not just politically, but ideologically. Because they are uncomfortable with genuine backward class advancement." He also reminded the party that 'AHINDA is not a vote bank. It is the voice of India's conscience." Congress insiders say the entire OBC push—including the Bengaluru Declaration—is part of a larger strategy: to win back OBC votes, revive leadership from within the community, and position the Congress as the party of social justice. For Siddaramaiah, the meeting was also a personal win, protecting his position as a strong OBC face of the Congress, especially at a time when his leadership is under scrutiny within the Karnataka unit. The party also acknowledged that OBC support has steadily drifted to the BJP over the decades and agreed it was time to confront that truth. Leaders discussed rebuilding ground support and learning from past missteps. The Bharatiya Janata Party, however, hit back sharply. Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra called the entire exercise a 'Bihar election gimmick" and challenged the Congress to declare Mallikarjun Kharge as its prime ministerial candidate if it truly cared about backward classes. 'They won't—because Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi will never allow it," he said. He also ridiculed Siddaramaiah's social justice pitch, recalling how the Rs 165-crore Kantharaju report was shelved allegedly 'after a phone call from Delhi and advice from Rahul Gandhi." top videos View all 'Where was your concern for the backward classes then?" he asked. Despite the BJP's criticism, the Congress is betting big on the caste census narrative. With 42 top leaders in attendance, including Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chiefs, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leaders and former chief ministers, the Bengaluru Declaration is being positioned as the party's blueprint for its social justice campaign—and a key roadmap for reclaiming lost political ground in the upcoming elections. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : bengaluru BJP caste congress karnataka OBC view comments Location : Bengaluru, India, India First Published: July 16, 2025, 20:24 IST News politics Congress's OBC Panel Bets Big On Caste Census Narrative, Siddaramaiah At Bengaluru Meeting Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. 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The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Hyderabad to host AICC OBC advisory council meeting in October
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud said that Hyderabad will host the next meeting of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) OBC Advisory Council in October. Addressing the Council's ongoing session in Bengaluru on Wednesday, chaired by Karnataka Chief Minister and OBC Advisory Council Chairman Siddaramaiah, Mr. Mahesh Kumar said Telangana has emerged as a model State in implementing Backward Classes (BC) reservations in line with the vision of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Recalling the BC Declaration meeting held in Kamareddy ahead of the Assembly elections, the TPCC chief said Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was the chief guest at the event, while he himself had proposed the declaration as the then TPCC working president. He added that after the Congress came to power in Telangana, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy extended full support to the BC reservation efforts, despite belonging to an upper-caste background. He stated that the Telangana Assembly had passed two BC-related Bills, including one providing for 42% reservations for BCs in local bodies. 'We are going to implement the reservations in the local body elections after the Governor approves the ordinance,' he said. Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, Konda Surekha and Vakiti Srihari were present at the meeting.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
AICC OBC panel backs Rahul's plan to win over voters
BENGALURU: AICC's new arm the OBC Advisory Council at its maiden meeting held at the KPCC officer here on Tuesday, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, resolved to back Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's agenda to win over the 90% of the population of the country OBCs, SC/STs and poorer sections among forward castes. The meeting will resume at a private hotel on Wednesday with OBC leaders from across the country taking part to discuss various issues, including the caste census. Three resolutions on political, social and economical issues of backward classes are likely to be adopted. The meeting is significant ahead of the Bihar Assembly polls, for which Rahul is campaigning aggressively. The meeting is likely to send out a message that the Grand Old Party is in favour of OBCs and the caste census. Analysts interpret it as the Grand Old Party's strategy to counter BJP and PM Narendra Modi with an assumption that the country has taken a paradigm shift over backward classes that could determine the outcomes in future elections, till the next Lok Sabha polls. Rajasthan former CM Ashok Gehlot claimed that because of Rahul's vociferous campaign, the Modi government announced the caste census. 'Under pressure ahead of Bihar Assembly polls, the Modi government announced it. The OBC Advisory Council and entire Congress will stand by Rahul in the campaign for caste census and to remove the 50% reservation cap,' he asserted.
New Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
CM Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar in Delhi to meet high command tomorrow
BENGALURU: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who had recently stated that he had no option but to support Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Tuesday said the CM's post was not vacant. Shivakumar was speaking to reporters in New Delhi. Asked whether some MLAs had proposed his name for the CM's post, he said, 'The CM's post is not vacant right now. Hence, this is not the time to discuss it.' However, he said that he, Siddaramaiah and AICC General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal will be holding political discussions in the capital on Thursday. According to sources, change in the CM's post is also likely to come up for discussion, as a deal was reportedly struck when the party came to power in 2023. Shivakumar said the AICC OBC Advisory Council meeting will be held in Bengaluru on July 15 under Siddaramaiah's leadership. 'Siddaramaiah is an influential backward classes leader, hence the Congress is utilising his leadership to organise these communities,' he said. Asked whether the meeting would culminate in appointing Siddaramaiah as the OBC Advisory Council head, he said, 'Siddaramaiah may not be the head of the OBC Advisory Council, but he will lead the meeting as an influential backward classes leader. His contribution to organising backward classes is immense.' CM Siddaramaiah is scheduled to meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi on Wednesday and propose that an air show be held during Mysuru Dasara in October. He is expected to meet the party high command on Thursday.
Hans India
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Vokkaligas and Lingayats are OBCs at the national level: DKS
Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, while asserting that Vokkaligas and Lingayats were considered OBCs at the national level, said that the OBC Advisory Council meeting was being held to uplift the Backward Classes. He was speaking to reporters at Bijjahalli in Kanakapura taluk. The Deputy Chief Minister said, 'There are many wings in the party for various sections of society like minorities, SC/ST, etc. Jains and Sikhs are also part of minority wing. The BJP gets restless if it doesn't raise issues like this.' He was replying to a question on BJP leaders' criticism that Siddaramaiah being given the responsibility of OBC Advisory Council was a ploy to send him off to national politics. 'I had suggested that the OBC Advisory Council meeting be held at the KPCC office as the party is in power in the state. Over 40 leaders from across the country are participating in the meeting,' he added.
