On Friday, whereas releasing the manifesto for the Chhattisgarh meeting polls, Union residence minister Amit Shah stated the BJP has by no means opposed a caste census. However he hedged his response by including that it’s a resolution that needs to be taken “after cautious thought”, “after consulting everybody”, and “at an applicable time”. He additionally sought to politics-proof the decision on caste census. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has additionally claimed that “poor” was the one caste that’s related. Nonetheless, quickly after the Bihar caste survey findings have been launched, senior BJP chief Sushil Kumar Modi had claimed the survey was the BJP’s “child” because the celebration was part of the coalition authorities that determined to conduct it. A number of the NDA allies have additionally supported the demand for a nationwide caste census.
The reticence of the BJP to debate the caste census demand is due to political and ideological causes. INDIA has made the caste census demand a marketing campaign subject; in truth, it is part of its outreach to the opposite backward lessons (OBC). The Opposition could achieve first mover benefit if the Centre accedes to this demand instantly. Initially a requirement of the Lohiaite socialists in UP and Bihar and the Dravidian events in Tamil Nadu, the Congress embraced OBC politics earlier than the latest Karnataka meeting elections. A consolidation of OBCs in its favour contributed to its resounding win in that state. It has since joined arms with the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Janata Dal (United), Samajwadi Celebration and DMK to argue for additional Mandalisation of the polity by demanding higher illustration of OBCs in political and financial spheres — as an example, its insistence on an OBC sub-quota inside ladies’s reservation in legislatures. The BJP and its ideological mentor, the RSS, see caste as a class that divides Hindu society and performs down its position in politics. Hindu higher castes again the BJP additionally for that reason. Nonetheless, the celebration has well exploited the fissures inside the massive OBC spectrum to win over smaller OBC teams that resent the domination of the numerically sturdy castes.
The BJP, and the NDA, must negotiate these contradictions as the final election nears. Caste politics is competing with welfare within the 5 states set for meeting elections this month. That is more likely to be the template for the final election as properly.
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