Unperturbed by ally BJP’s reservations, Nitish Kumar calls all-party meeting on caste census on May 27

Tribune News Service

Vibha Sharma

New Delhi, May 23

Political corridors in Bihar are abuzz with speculations following a call by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for an all-party meeting on May 27 to discuss caste-based census.

Unperturbed by ally BJP's reservations, Kumar said the state government had sent a proposal for the meeting to all parties, however, some have not responded so far.  “We are waiting for their response. We want to discuss each and every issue related to caste-based census. The leaders of different political parties will give their suggestions which will be a great help,” he said, days after Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav met him over the issue.

While parties like the JD-U, the RJD, the Congress, the Left and the AIMIM are in favour, Kumar’s alliance partner BJP has raised objections to such a head count. Amid speculations that BJP leaders may not attend the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Tarkishore Prasad said the CM had told them about the date of meeting. “We are discussing this matter within the party (BJP) and will soon take a call on it,” he said.

While it remains to be seen how the BJP leadership will react to this attempt to “corner” the party, it is almost clear that the caste-based census, a long-standing demand of political parties like the RJD, is set to take off in Bihar.

Notably an all-party delegation headed by Nitish Kumar had also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to press for a caste census.

Observers say the BJP is wary of any such exercise that may lead to change in the dynamics of caste politics and calculations, perhaps even lead to the emergence of leaders from castes that may emerge as numerically more than what was being presumed. Though BJP leaders in Bihar, especially those from backward classes, claim the party was never opposed to a caste census and that the Centre might not have taken it up for “practical reasons”.

The BJP’s “indifference” to the caste census has evoked allegations from opposition parties like the RJD that the saffron party, which derives support base from, “primarily among upper castes does not care much for the OBCs for whom gains are expected from the headcount”

Speculations have been rife over change in relationship dynamics between the two allies since the surprise visit by senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan to Patna a few days back to “assure” Nitish Kumar that he would continue to occupy the top post till 2025. 

Kumar is credited with giving state benefits to the most marginalised among the segment—EBCs and mahadalits— and a caste census will only add to his popularity and political CV, add observers.

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