Karnataka to Recount Caste; CM Briefs Brass on Stampede

CM asked to present a report on the Bengaluru stampede | On possible reshuffle, DK Shivakumar said "nothing on the cards"

- TDG NETWORK

The Congress on Tuesday said it has decided to hold caste re-enumeration in Karnataka to address concerns of some communities who complained of being left out of the survey that was conducted 10 years ago.

The Karnataka cabinet will decide the timeline for the caste re-enumeration to be conducted in the state within 90 days, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said on Tuesday, promising a "transparent" process that protects the interests of all sections of society.

He was speaking after the party announced the decision on the caste recount following a high-level meeting with Congress president Mallikarjuna Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was also among the leaders present during the deliberations.

"Several ministers and communities have expressed apprehensions, and keeping this in mind, the party leadership has decided to re-enumerate castes in the state," Siddaramaiah told reporters.

"We have agreed to that. The party has decided to complete the survey and submit the report within 90 days."

Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, emphasised that the census would be conducted transparently while taking all communities into confidence.

"The cabinet will decide the date and timeline of the survey, which is a long and big process. The CM will announce the date," he said.