In response to allegations made by Congress MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa regarding the alleged marginalization of the Lingayat community, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took a proactive step by disclosing multiple lists of Lingayat officials serving in the state. Shivashankarappa, a senior Congress leader and MLA had voiced concerns that members of the Lingayat community were not being given favorable positions within the state government.
In an effort to address these concerns, the Chief Minister shared several lists highlighting the representation of Lingayat officials in various categories within the state administration.
According to the provided data, six Deputy Commissioners (DCs) in the state are affiliated with the Lingayat community, six belong to the Vokkaliga community, and one is from the Kuruba caste. Additionally, there are five DCs from the SC category, two from the ST category, and five from the OBC category.
Among the Superintendents of Police (SPs) in Karnataka, six are Lingayats, six are Vokkaligas, and four are Kurubas. In addition, two SPs are of Muslim descent, four are from the ST category, and six are from the SC category.
Regarding the role of Chief Engineer, seven individuals from the Lingayat community hold this position, along with nine from the Vokkaliga community and three from the Kuruba caste. Four Chief Engineers belong to each of the SC and OBC categories.
The data pertaining to Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in the state indicates that four CEOs are Lingayats, one belongs to the Kuruba caste, six come from the SC category, five from the OBC category, and four belong to the ST category.
Furthermore, there are currently eight Lingayat ministers serving in the Cabinet led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The Congress government's swift response and provision of evidence followed BJP leader and former Chief Minister Yediyurappa's endorsement of Shivashankarappa's statement. Yediyurappa, also from the Lingayat community, called for unity among Lingayats.
During the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, the Congress party was able to make inroads into the BJP's Lingayat support base. The support of the Lingayat community, which accounts for approximately 17 percent of the state's population, played a pivotal role in tilting the electoral balance in favor of the Congress.
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