A survey by a Hyderabad-based analysis organisation has highlighted the general public’s rising mistrust of Karnataka’s caste census report, a key initiative of the Congress authorities within the state.
Performed from April 17 to Might 18, the examine titled Pulse of the Karnataka State additionally revealed a rising tide of anti-incumbency towards the Congress authorities led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after two years in energy.
The general public approval of the Congress authorities is blended, with 48.4 per cent score it “good” or “excellent,” however 32 per cent calling it “poor” or “very poor.”
By way of the caste census report, solely 26.3 per cent of voters trusted it, whereas 35 per cent expressed mistrust and 16 per cent had been partially skeptical, identified the survey, citing methodological considerations. As many as 10,481 respondents throughout rural and concrete areas participated within the survey performed by the Individuals’s Pulse Political Analysis Group and Codemo Applied sciences.
“The Congress faces inside factionalism, significantly between Siddaramaiah and D Ok Shivakumar, weakening its electoral prospects. These rifts have hindered the get together’s potential to counter the BJP successfully,” famous the survey evaluation.
It, nonetheless, noticed that the BJP additionally struggles with groupism and lacks a transparent chief ministerial candidate. The report additionally confirmed that Siddaramaiah remained the best choice for Chief Minister (29.2%), adopted by D Ok Shivakumar (10.7%)
“The absence of a distinguished BJP chief contrasts with Siddaramaiah’s sustained private reputation, offering the Congress with a strategic benefit regardless of its challenges,” mentioned the evaluation.
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Narrowing down additional, 34.6 per cent of Congress voters absolutely trusted the caste census report, however 21.7 per cent stay uncertain. BJP and JD(S) voters confirmed stronger skepticism, with 43.3 per cent and 50 per cent, respectively, distrusting the report. Caste-wise, 50 per cent of Lingayat and Vokkaliga voters—representing 37 and 23 MLAs—questioned its accuracy, whereas 33 per cent of Kuruba and 45.1 per cent of Madiga voters view it positively as a step towards social fairness.
In distinction to the 2023 Meeting election, the survey signalled a broader shift in public sentiment, with the BJP projected to safe 51 per cent of the vote share (136–159 seats) if elections had been held at the moment, in comparison with Congress’ 40.3 per cent (62–82 seats) and JD(S)’s 5 per cent (3–6 seats). Within the final Meeting elections, Congress gained 42.88 per cent (135 seats) and BJP 36 per cent (66 seats). Rising inflation, delays in welfare scheme implementation, and a ten per cent electrical energy tariff hike in 2025 have fueled discontent, significantly in city areas, in line with the report.
In the meantime, 55 per cent of voters anticipate a BJP victory within the subsequent elections, the examine mentioned.
The BJP’s narrative on nationwide safety, bolstered by occasions just like the Pahalgam incident and Operation Sindoor, has added 1–1.5% to its voter assist since Might 10, the survey revealed.
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Demographically, the BJP leads amongst Hindu voters (58.5%), Lingayats (78.9%), and farmers (53.9%), whereas Congress dominates amongst Muslims (85.5%) and Kurubas (54.6%). Amongst ladies, the BJP holds a 3.8 per cent edge, regardless of Congress’s women-centric Gruha Lakshmi scheme, which 45.4 per cent of beneficiaries strongly assist. Nevertheless, the Yuva Nidhi scheme for youth unemployment advantages has solely 2 per cent assist, reflecting implementation challenges. Rural discontent stems from partial mortgage waivers, with solely 60 per cent of eligible farmers receiving promised advantages by March 2025, the examine revealed.
The survey additionally included evaluation of the Congress authorities’s bold 5 ensures price Rs 51,034 crore, central to its 2023 manifesto. Gruha Lakshmi, with Rs 28,608 crore for Rs 2,000 month-to-month funds to 1.22 crore ladies, is probably the most favoured, with 45.4 per cent of beneficiaries expressing robust assist, significantly amongst ladies. Gruha Jyothi, funded at Rs 10,100 crore totally free electrical energy as much as 200 items for 1.62 crore shoppers, advantages from excessive consciousness. Shakti, with Rs 5,300 crore totally free bus journey for over 50 lakh ladies month-to-month, sees important use however faces criticism over cost delays to highway transport firms. Yuva Nidhi, allotted Rs 286 crore for unemployment advantages for two.58 crore youth, has solely 2 per cent assist, reflecting restricted influence because of beneficiary choice errors. Anna Bhagya, offering money transfers as a substitute of 5 kilograms of free rice for 4.21 crore beneficiaries, is broadly recognized however criticized for delayed transfers. Total, 97 per cent of voters are conscious of the schemes, indicating efficient outreach, but marred by implementation points and cost delays.
On broader governance, 48.4 per cent of respondents fee the Congress authorities’s efficiency nearly as good or excellent, whereas 32 per cent name it poor or very poor, and about 20 per cent view it as common. Practically 48 per cent imagine the Congress outperforms the earlier BJP authorities, although 55.2 per cent of BJP voters and 54.7 per cent of JD(S) voters disagree.
The survey additionally identified that public grievances deal with poor civic facilities (12.7%), water shortages (11.1%), and farmer misery (9.6%), highlighting infrastructure and rural challenges.