CM Bommai sets deadline to fulfil demands of Panchamsalis

Demand of the community for inclusion under 2A category of Other Backward Classes cannot be ignored

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: Understanding the importance of the Panchamasali community’s support in the upcoming Assembly elections, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has assured that the community will hear good news “at the earliest”.

Instead of the community leaders led by Sri Jayamruthyunjaya Swamiji of Panchamasali Peeta, Koodalasangama, setting a deadline for the government, the CM has set one for himself – December 19 – to get a report from former minister and MP K Jayaprakash Hegde, currently chairman of the Permanent Backward Commission on pros and cons on the inclusion of the Panchamasali community under 2A of Other Backward Classes category.

That means the BJP cannot afford to lose support of the community, whose population number stands at 1.25 crore, according to the seer. Congress leaders are waiting for the government to go back from its promise, so they can use the issue to gain political mileage, and promise to fulfil their demands provided they support their party in the crucial 2023 Assembly elections.

The BJP is aware of the fact that it will be very difficult for it to win the required number of seats to come back to power without the support of the powerful Panchamasali community, which is spread across the state but dominates several districts of North Karnataka.

The demand of this community for inclusion under 2A category of Other Backward Classes cannot be ignored because the stir is led by leaders of two national parties, Congress and the BJP. Former union minister and Vijayapura City MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal of BJP, Laxmi Hebbalkar and Vijayananda Kashappanavar of Congress, are at the forefront of the agitation.

The BJP did not want this community to go to Congress at any cost as that would change its political game plan. The seer said for the first time, CM Bommai has set a deadline for himself of December 19 to get the report from the Backward Classes Commission on their demand and it would be fulfilled as early as possible.

Lakhs of Panchamasali community followers would stage a dharna in front of the Survarna Soudha in Belagavi from December 22 in case no major decision is taken. If their demands are met, the congregation will turn into a public rally to felicitate the CM for responding to their long-pending demand.

Bommai is learnt to have told the high command to fulfil this demand at the earliest as the community would then help the BJP in 40-50 Assembly constituencies of the total 224 seats. Besides, Yatnal has promised the saffron leaders that he would ensure diversion of the community votes for the BJP in the coming assembly elections if demands are fulfilled.

According to sources, the CM has asked the Commission to expedite its work and submit the report as early as possible, so that it can be tabled in the Belagavi session and secure approval of the House. Since the ordinance pertaining to hike in quota for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe has to be ratified in the coming session upon moving legislation, the CM also wants to increase reservation for the Panchamasalis, Kurubas and Billavas to galvanise their support.

With regard to demand in quota for Vokkaligas from the current 4 per cent to 12 per cent, the government may constitute a committee to look into the demand.