B.J. Puttaswamy, State BJP’s OBC morcha president, on Thursday criticised former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for allegedly spending Rs. 220 crore on caste census. “That was absolutely unnecessary. That data could have been easily collated through the reports of the various backward class commissions over the years.

There was no need to spend so much money on such an exercise. The former CM should reimburse the money to the State exchequer,” he said. He was in Belagavi as part of a tour of 28 districts to organise leaders from backward classes for the Lok Sabha campaign.

He claimed that backward classes, going by reports of commissions, make up 31% of the State’s population and all parties were vying for their votes. These communities will play an important role in the elections, he said.