Amid pressure from Dalit Left communities to include internal reservation in the proposed recruitment of 56,432 seats, the state government is likely to come under further pressure as the Valmiki community, the largest of the Scheduled Tribes in Karnataka, is set to stage a protest against the government’s decision to revert the reservation quota from 7% to 3%.
While district-level consultations among community leaders are currently underway, Valmiki Prasannanandapuri Swami is expected to lay down a plan for the future after a meeting in Bengaluru next week. On Sunday, BJP leaders P. Rajeev and B. Sriramulu said in Chitradurga that they would organize a massive apolitical movement for 7% reservation.
“Lots of community members’ meetings across the state, attended by leaders of all political parties, discussed the introduction of 56% reservation quota in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution, as the increase in reservation for both Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was based on population size. Community leaders feel that the current recruitment cycle should not be kept at 50% as the community is estimated to lose 50% and the development of ST22, The Hindu said.
The community concern follows a notification by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) laying down guidelines for recruiting authorities/departments on reservation issues. With Karnataka High Court cases pending, both regarding increase in reservation from 50% to 56% (due to increase in reservation for SCs from 15% to 17% and STs from 3% to 7%) and internal reservation (subclass of 17% quota among Madigas, Holeyas and touchable castes/internal reservation of recruitment and nomadic castes), the GO allows.
The Dalit Left has been pressuring the government to include internal reservations ever since the governor gave his assent to the Karnataka Scheduled Castes (Sub-Classification) Act, 2025. Although the government has earmarked 2% and 4% reservations for SCs and STs, in addition to 50%, on the basis of a court order, communities have been wary of the move. Improvements in reservations for SCs and STs were introduced through the Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and Appointments or Posts in State-wise Services) Act, 2022.
The Valmiki community is the most politically influential and largest of the 50 scheduled tribes in the state and wields political power in 15 assembly seats and three parliamentary seats reserved for STs in Karnataka. The Valmiki/Nayaka population was estimated at about 33 thousand in the 2011 census.
While Congress leaders have so far cited court orders to justify the cuts, BJP leaders have learned to be wary of jumping into the fray openly, fearing they will be questioned about the party’s commitment to include the legislation in the 9th Schedule when the BJP was ruling both the state and the Centre, sources said. STs recently protested outside the residence of Public Works Minister Satish Jharkiholi in Belagavi. Community leaders also meet with political leaders to share their views.
Sarika Shobha Vinayaka, head of Kannada Nadu Nayaka Okkoota, said the seer would take the lead in protecting the interests of the community and the movement was likely to remain apolitical. “If a politician, whether from the Congress or the BJP, heads the movement, it will remain fragmented. The seer is an acceptable face of the community across the state. Informal consultations to understand the wider impact have taken place at the mutt,” she said. According to her, the diviner is likely to meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other government ministers in the coming days.
The unpleasant situation of smaller tribes
49 minor tribes, including two Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTs) in Karnataka, whose total population is estimated at about 10 lakh as per the 2011 census, are likely to be affected by the reduction in reservation for STs from 7% to 3%. These tribes, mostly forest dwellers and some nomads, seek inner reservation among the STs as they are unable to compete with the mighty Valmiki.
“These communities have not availed the benefits of reservation. We were looking for internal reservations in the 7% space and reducing this quota to 3% will affect these smaller tribes. In fact, Myasa Bedaru, a sub-sect of the Valmikis, will also be affected,” said CS Dwarkanath, president of Alemari Budakattu State Commission and Back Kararda Classaresna. He said that most of the 49 tribes have no political representation and do not even have the benefits of reservation. “Since they are scattered in the regions, they are not becoming politically significant groups. We have held meetings to understand the implications. It will be difficult for them to squeeze into the 3% reservation,” he said.
Published – March 8, 2026 7:37 PM IST
