August 2, 2025

Bengaluru's political landscape is heating up as Home Minister G Parameshwara prepares for a crucial meeting with Congress legislators who belong to various Scheduled Caste (SC) sub-castes. This gathering is set to take place at Parameshwara's residence, tentatively scheduled for Saturday. The discussions come at a pivotal moment, with the Justice HN Nagamohan Das Commission expected to submit its report on internal reservations for SCs next week. The commission's findings, anticipated by Monday (August 4), are highly awaited and are expected to carry significant implications for the SC communities across the state. In this context, Parameshwara's meeting aims to foster a sense of unity and gather collective opinions within the party. "We plan to have a discussion on various sub-castes and their opinions," he stated, emphasizing the importance of understanding the sentiments of these groups. This meeting follows a similar one held before the survey conducted by the commission, marking it as part of an ongoing effort to engage party members on this sensitive issue. This meeting is seen as a strategic maneuver to solidify intra-party support and mitigate potential discord, especially given the sensitivities surrounding the internal reservation topic. While Parameshwara acknowledged that the Congress high command had previously thwarted a planned large-scale rally, he expressed confidence that meetings of legislators can be conducted without opposition from party leadership. In a lighter vein, when asked if the meeting would include a meal, Parameshwara humorously assured, "Dinner or lunch or coffee meeting, we will do something." Notably, a previous dinner meeting in January that included SC and ST ministers had stirred speculation about leadership changes, although officials then insisted it was merely preparatory for an SC/ST convention. Speculation about leadership has intensified following recent comments from AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, who expressed dissatisfaction over not being appointed Chief Minister back in 1999. Parameshwara did support this notion, suggesting that Kharge could indeed re-enter state politics. On the other side of the political spectrum, BJP MP and former deputy chief minister Govind Karjol has been vocal about the party's commitment to advocate for internal reservations for SCs. He announced on Thursday a “Do or Die” movement aimed at pressuring the government to fulfill its commitment by August 11. According to Karjol, if the state government fails to act, a series of statewide protests will kick off starting Friday, escalating to a non-cooperation movement if necessary. Protest strategies involve mobilizing members of the Madiga community, along with other SC representatives and numerous supporting organizations. Demonstrations are set to take place at various government offices, with activists submitting memoranda demanding concrete actions toward establishing internal reservations. Karjol accused the current government of backtracking on its pre-election promises regarding the provision of internal reservation, referencing a ruling from the Supreme Court that affirmed state governments' authority to implement such measures. He stressed the importance of timely action before the August deadline. In summary, as the Justice Nagamohan Das Commission prepares to reveal its long-awaited report, political tensions rise in Bengaluru surrounding the issue of internal reservations for Scheduled Castes. The prospective meeting led by Parameshwara showcases Congress' initiative to unite its members, while the BJP gears up to mobilize for protests that could reshape the political dialogue in Karnataka's SC communities.

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Tags: Bengaluru, Internal reservation, Scheduled castes, Congress, Protests,