Karnataka Assembly polls: Incipient class divide amid caste battles

This criticism of "Anna Bhagya", particularly from the landed among the tribals and Dalits, the castes which have been its principal beneficiaries, comes up often in the Mysuru, Hassan and Mandya belt

It comes as a bit of a surprise when Deva Nayak, an elderly, tribal shopkeeper in Beerihundi village of the Chamundeshwari assembly constituency, criticises the state government’s “Anna Bhagya”, or free foodgrains, scheme for the poor.

Congressman and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah grew up in a Kuruba, or shepherd, household in Beerihundi village, and Chamundeshwari and Badami are the two seats he is contesting from in the upcoming assembly polls.

“Siddaramaiah has worked only for his people (Kurubas). They are the biggest beneficiaries of the ‘Bhagya’ scheme,” Deva Nayak says with some bitterness, and adds that the scheme had made people lazy. 

The 60-year-old