Tue Sep 16 15:26:50 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

BJP MLC A.H. Vishwanath accuses Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of manipulating the proposal to include the Kuruba community in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list for political gain, specifically to counter his deputy, D.K. Shivakumar. Vishwanath claims Siddaramaiah hasn’t genuinely supported the Kuruba community and criticizes his handling of the caste census. He also opposes creating new caste categories for converts and defends the government’s choice of Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate Dasara.

**News Article:**

**Karnataka CM Accused of Playing “Kuruba Card” for Political Survival**

**Mysuru, September 16, 2025** – In a press conference held today, BJP MLC A.H. Vishwanath launched a scathing attack on Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, accusing him of exploiting the Kuruba community for political advantage. Vishwanath alleges that Siddaramaiah’s recent push to include the Kuruba community in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list is a calculated move to undermine Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s ambitions for the Chief Minister’s post.

“This is nothing but Siddaramaiah playing the Kuruba card,” Vishwanath stated, emphasizing that both he and Siddaramaiah belong to the Kuruba community, currently categorized as OBC. He pointed out that a similar proposal was initiated during the previous government but was not handled properly by Siddaramaiah’s administration.

Vishwanath further criticized the Chief Minister’s handling of the caste census, claiming he lacked the courage to accept the findings of the Kantharaj Commission’s report. He also voiced his opposition to creating new caste categories for religious converts, arguing that conversion should not require maintaining the convert’s previous caste identity.

However, Vishwanath did express support for the government’s decision to invite writer Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the upcoming Dasara festival, praising the High Court’s dismissal of petitions challenging the choice.

The accusations from Vishwanath add another layer of complexity to the already fraught political landscape of Karnataka, raising questions about the Chief Minister’s motives and the future of community relations within the state.

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