The Center, led by the bharatiya janata party, shocked the opposition and political analysts by announcing it would carry out a caste census. Naturally, the congress party is claiming credit for the action, claiming that rahul Gandhi's constant pressure forced the saffron party to give in. Ahead of the bihar Assembly elections, bjp supporters are describing this action as a masterstroke and asserting that it has lessened the impact of the opposition's primary campaign platform.
In any case, the bjp has long been ambivalent about the matter, thus the move was unexpected. On the basis of nationalism and Hindutva, it has united a Hindu-majority vote bank and urged people to put caste aside. With significant wins in the general elections of 2014 and 2019 as well as numerous state elections, it has largely been successful. What then caused the bjp to change its mind after initially characterizing the push for a caste census as divisive?
1) congress push for social justice:
If elected, the congress party promised a national caste census. The party has fulfilled this pledge in two of the three states where it holds power, showing that this is more than a ploy. Additionally, it has pledged to enact a constitutional change that will increase the 50% cap on reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other backward classes that was imposed by the supreme Court.
2) Setback in 2024 lok sabha polls:
Since it was able to increase the support of OBCs over time, doubling from 22% in 2009 to 44% in 2019, the bjp refrained from holding a caste census. And with good cause. Many bjp chief ministers, including the prime minister, are OBC. Through election tickets and positions in state and federal cabinets, the party has provided OBC leaders with significant representation. OBCs from the congress and regional parties were courted in this way.
3) Upcoming bihar and UP elections:
According to a 2018 Aziz Premji Institute study, 55% of voters in india choose politicians from their caste, demonstrating how entrenched caste is in indian politics. The struggle is anticipated to be fierce as bihar prepares for another election contest, considering Nitish Kumar's deteriorating health and the weight of a 20-year anti-incumbency campaign. The opposition's renewed emphasis on caste considerations and efforts to broaden its base of support beyond Muslims and Yadavs seem to be posing a rising threat to the BJP-led nda alliance, which was long thought to be unbeatable in its capacity to form social coalitions.
In any case, the bjp has long been ambivalent about the matter, thus the move was unexpected. On the basis of nationalism and Hindutva, it has united a Hindu-majority vote bank and urged people to put caste aside. With significant wins in the general elections of 2014 and 2019 as well as numerous state elections, it has largely been successful. What then caused the bjp to change its mind after initially characterizing the push for a caste census as divisive?
1) congress push for social justice:
If elected, the congress party promised a national caste census. The party has fulfilled this pledge in two of the three states where it holds power, showing that this is more than a ploy. Additionally, it has pledged to enact a constitutional change that will increase the 50% cap on reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other backward classes that was imposed by the supreme Court.
2) Setback in 2024 lok sabha polls:
Since it was able to increase the support of OBCs over time, doubling from 22% in 2009 to 44% in 2019, the bjp refrained from holding a caste census. And with good cause. Many bjp chief ministers, including the prime minister, are OBC. Through election tickets and positions in state and federal cabinets, the party has provided OBC leaders with significant representation. OBCs from the congress and regional parties were courted in this way.
3) Upcoming bihar and UP elections:
According to a 2018 Aziz Premji Institute study, 55% of voters in india choose politicians from their caste, demonstrating how entrenched caste is in indian politics. The struggle is anticipated to be fierce as bihar prepares for another election contest, considering Nitish Kumar's deteriorating health and the weight of a 20-year anti-incumbency campaign. The opposition's renewed emphasis on caste considerations and efforts to broaden its base of support beyond Muslims and Yadavs seem to be posing a rising threat to the BJP-led nda alliance, which was long thought to be unbeatable in its capacity to form social coalitions.
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