Karnataka's former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has demanded that the state immediately implement its caste census and raise reservation for Dalits, backward classes and minorities to 75 percent. He argued that genuine equality in society is impossible unless every community gets opportunities in proportion to its population.
What Siddaramaiah said
Speaking at the Silver Jubilee celebration of the Karnataka State Backward Classes Federation, Siddaramaiah pressed for the caste survey report to be implemented without delay. He said, "If you all want social justice, there should be at least 75 percent reservation." He added that this 75 percent reservation should extend to all three groups, Dalits, backward communities and minorities. He said reservation limits should be fixed according to each community's actual population rather than any old formula.
Why the caste census demand matters
Karnataka already has a caste survey report, but it has not been fully implemented so far. Siddaramaiah has long pushed for reservation to be restructured based on that report, so that Dalit, backward and minority communities get a share matching their real population numbers. His latest demand is being seen as an extension of the same social justice politics he has championed.
Siddaramaiah's political journey
Siddaramaiah has previously served as Karnataka's Chief Minister and holds the record for the longest tenure in that post. He resigned as Chief Minister in May 2026, after which D K Shivakumar was sworn in as Karnataka's new Chief Minister in June 2026. Even after leaving office, Siddaramaiah has continued to speak out on issues of social justice and reservation.
