Under pressure, BJP promises nationwide caste survey to NDA partners

As the alliance partners of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) demand a nationwide caste-based census, the BJP leadership has assured its allies that “it will be done at the right time”.

With less than eight months left for the 2024 general elections, there is growing clamour within the ruling NDA over conducting caste-based survey nationwide.

Soon after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar came out with the survey report on caste in the state, regional allies of the NDA are now demanding a similar survey nationally and have also asked the Union government to create a new ministry specifically devoted to the empowerment of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

Deliberations with Modi, Shah

“Our leader Anupriya Patel had a detailed discussion on the issue of caste census with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. We have been assured by both leaders that a nationwide caste census will be carried out in the country at the right time. We have always been supportive of the idea of a caste-based census, and we strongly believe that it will be good for the country,” said Dr Sunil Patel, UP MLA and senior leader of Apna Dal (Sonelal).

The Apna Dal (Sonelal) is not the only party demanding a nationwide caste-based census. Most of the NDA partners of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have been asking the Union government to conduct a caste census across the country so that the policies of the Union government can be formulated on the basis of the census findings.

Apart from Apna Dal (Sonelal), another alliance partner of the BJP that wants the Union government to carry out such a survey is Om Prakash Rajbhar-led Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSJ) and Sanjay Nishad, who is a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government and chief of the NISHAD party.

The common link between all the NDA partners of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh is that all the regional parties are dependent on the votes of the OBCs. The BJP too is dependent on the support of the OBC community for its dominant success across the country.

“We have always been supportive of a caste-based census nationally, and we urge the Union government to carry out a caste-based census at the national level. It will give us a clear picture of the different communities in the country,” said Nishad during a public meeting on Thursday.

UP, Bihar allies back idea

The rising demand for a caste-based census within the NDA has put pressure on the BJP leadership to acknowledge the demands of its alliance partners, especially in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Apart from the obvious demand for a caste-based census, the NDA partners are also pushing for a separate ministry for the OBC community. The demand was first put forth by Union minister Anupriya Patel, a senior leader of Apna Dal (Sonelal), in Uttar Pradesh. Although Patel has been supportive of the caste census, this is the first time that she has demanded a separate ministry for the OBC community.

Incidentally, NDA partners want the Union government to set up a ministry not only at the national level but also in the states that have substantial population of the OBC community.

“The ministry will ensure the well-being of the OBC community. It is an important step that should have been taken a long time ago. Our demand for a ministry for OBCs stands. Similarly, the issue of caste-based census in equally important as it will help the government formulate its policies based on its findings,” said Patel.

It was at a public meeting on October 3 in Uttar Pradesh that Patel put forward the demand for a ministry dedicated to OBCs. This is not the only demand made by NDA partners. Among the demands that have been conveyed to the BJP leadership, the NDA partners also want that there should be reservation for women from the OBC community in the Lok Sabha and also in the legislative assemblies.

More demands in offing

Talking about the issue of caste-based census, Patel also demanded that there should be greater representation of OBCs, Scheduled Caste (SC), and Scheduled Tribe (ST) in the judiciary. The Union minister has demanded that the Centre set up a national judicial service to ensure greater representation of OBC, SCs, and STs in the judiciary.

“We are in favour of a caste survey in Uttar Pradesh. A caste based survey or census is the need of the hour because it is the only way to find out the numerical strength of all the castes. We have also asked the Union government and state government to ensure that communities like fishermen and boatmen are included in the Scheduled Castes,” said Nishad.

Political analysts believe that the promise of a caste-based census by the BJP to NDA partners is the first step to meeting the demand of the alliance partners.

“There is a demand from NDA partners for a caste census and the promise made by the BJP to its alliance partners is just the first step. The promise can act as a bridge between the BJP and the NDA partners,” said Jai Mrug, a Mumbai-based political analyst and psephologist.