Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Siddaramaiah Vows to Continue Fight for Internal Reservation
Siddaramaiah spoke in Bengaluru about helping communities that have faced discrimination because of the caste system.
He said internal reservation means dividing reserved opportunities among different disadvantaged groups.
He promised to support this policy even though he is no longer the head of the government.
He said reservation gives people opportunities they were denied in the past.
He asked Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to clear up disagreements about how the policy should work.
Different groups have disagreed about how reserved seats should be divided.
Siddaramaiah said the government must keep working until people have more equal chances.
He also told supporters to stay united in their fight for social justice.
Siddaramaiah said he would continue supporting internal reservation and social justice regardless of holding office.
He argued reservation is needed to provide opportunities to communities disadvantaged by the caste system.
He urged Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to resolve confusion and implement internal reservation.
Siddaramaiah cited competing classification formulas, including the 6:6:5 proposal and a later 5.25:5.25:4.5 formula.
He said reservation should continue until social and economic inequality is reduced and equal opportunities are provided.
- Who
- Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and groups supporting internal reservation.
- What
- Siddaramaiah reaffirmed his support for internal reservation, broader reservation policies, and social justice.
- When
- Tuesday; the article does not provide a specific date.
- Where
- At a seminar in Bengaluru organized by the Social Justice and Internal Reservation Struggle Committee.
- Why
- He said reservation is necessary to address caste-based exclusion and provide equal opportunities to oppressed communities.
Internal-reservation supporters
Critics and challengers
Whether internal reservation should be implemented
Internal-reservation supporters
Siddaramaiah said internal reservation must be implemented and that the Congress party and his government support it.
Critics and challengers
The article refers to anti-reservation forces and says petitions were filed against the proposed reclassification in the High Court.
How communities should be classified
Internal-reservation supporters
Siddaramaiah described multiple proposals for dividing the quota, including the 6:6:5 and 5.25:5.25:4.5 formulas.
Critics and challengers
Opponents argued that including nomadic tribes with the Bhovi and Banjara communities was incorrect, according to Siddaramaiah's account.
Extent of reservation policy
Internal-reservation supporters
Siddaramaiah argued that reservation should continue until social, economic, and political equality is achieved, including representation in the judiciary.
Critics and challengers
He criticized anti-reservation forces and those who oppose reservation, but the article does not provide their direct response.
- Main issue
- Implementation of internal reservation for disadvantaged communities.
- Proposed classification
- Siddaramaiah referred to a 6:6:5 formula and a later 5.25:5.25:4.5 formula.
- Committee
- The Nagamohan Das Committee visited villages, consulted people, and submitted a report on internal reservation.
- Reservation ceiling cited
- Siddaramaiah cited the 1992 Indira Sawhney judgment's 50% limit and said a later 10% economically weaker sections quota brought the total to 60%.
- Scheduled Caste and Tribe share
- He cited the 2011 Census figures of 17.15% Scheduled Castes and 6.95% Scheduled Tribes, totaling 24.1%.
- SCSP/TSP funding
- He said Karnataka's SCSP/TSP allocation is Rs 44,636 crore this year, compared with about Rs 8,000 crore before 2013.
- Next step
- Siddaramaiah said he would speak with D.K. Shivakumar and ministers before a Cabinet decision.