"THE POLITICS OF INCLUSION: PANCHAMASALI LINGAYAT AND THE CHALLENGE OF OBC 2-A RESERVATION IN KARNATAKA"

Abstract

Focusing on Category 2-A and the demand of the Panchamasali Lingayat community for this category, the present structure of the OBC reservation system in Karnataka is discussed. By using the secondary data we establish the socio-economic impacts of the probability of the community inclusion in the OBC list; followed by the general discourse on equity, justice and politics in Karnataka. The research evaluates the social and economic development of the Panchamasali Lingayat community, examines past and present governmental policy, and analyses the consequences of the Panchamasali Lingayat being part of Category 2-A.