Karnataka Congress Dissent Grows as Surjewala Meets MLAs; Kharge Says High Command Decides CM; SC Survey Faces Backlash, Three BBMP Officials Suspended

The Karnataka Congress is experiencing internal dissent amid rumors of a possible cabinet reshuffle and leadership change. Randeep Singh Surjewala, Congress general secretary in charge of Karnataka, has been meeting with party MLAs to address these concerns. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated that decisions regarding the Chief Minister position are in the hands of the party's high command, a collective body including senior leaders such as Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Kharge himself. Despite claims by Congress MLA Iqbal Hussain that nearly 100 MLAs are anticipating a change in leadership, senior leaders including Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar have denied any ongoing leadership shift. Meanwhile, a caste survey of Scheduled Caste (SC) households in Karnataka has come under intense scrutiny after CCTV footage revealed enumerators allegedly pasting completion stickers on houses without interacting with residents. This practice has been criticized by opposition parties, including the BJP and JDS, who have labeled the survey as bogus and deceptive. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has acknowledged the concerns, and three officials have been suspended for dereliction of duty during the survey. The Karnataka government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has defended the survey, emphasizing its importance for social justice and upliftment of backward communities. However, the controversy has sparked public outrage, including an incident where a BBMP staffer was caught on CCTV allegedly assaulting a homeowner who questioned the survey process. The survey, which follows a previous caste census in 2015 that was also criticized and discarded after spending approximately 165 crore rupees, faces resistance particularly in Bengaluru, with BJP threatening protests. The ongoing political turmoil within the Karnataka Congress and the backlash over the caste survey highlight challenges facing the state government.