As it came to be known as the caste census, the significance of the Siddaramaiah-led government’s decision became evident as it took on the daunting task despite severe opposition from the Lingayats and Vokkaligas. This decision also fortified Siddaramaiah’s stature as a leader of the AHINDA bloc, a Kannada acronym that stands for religious minorities, backward castes, and Dalits in the State. Also Read | Karnataka’s caste census: Too hot to handle? The intention behind the caste census was to use the figures for an empirical recalibration of the reservation provided to the State’s backward classes. For instance, 47 sub-castes of Christians are listed in the KSCBC survey handbook.