BJP has had a long history of being reluctant to conduct caste census. What changed?

In a major policy shift, the Cabinet on April 30 announced its decision to include caste enumeration in the next decennial census.

The announcement was made by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who said the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs had cleared the proposal, adding that the exercise would be conducted in a “transparent manner.”

He also took a dig at states that had carried out caste surveys earlier, claiming those efforts lacked transparency and rigour.

The move, however, immediately triggered a political tussle over credit, with opposition parties, particularly the Congress, arguing that it was their sustained pressure—spearheaded by Rahul Gandhi—that forced the Centre’s hand.

Congress communications head Jairam Ramesh said the BJP had mocked Gandhi when he described caste census as “the X-ray of Indian society.”

“Now the Modi government is making arrangements for counting,” Ramesh posted on X, calling it a "decisive step towards ensuring social justice" and a "victory for millions."

Congress also pointed to Gandhi’s persistent demand for caste data—voiced in Parliament, public rallies and election campaigns—and described the announcement as the culmination of long-standing calls for fair representation. Telangana CM Revanth Reddy echoed the sentiment, saying that his state’s work on OBC empowerment had “inspired the country,” while congratulating the Centre for finally agreeing to count caste.

BJP defends its move, blames Congress for 'only talking'


Facing the Opposition's chorus of credit-claiming, the BJP quickly moved to reshape the narrative. Party leaders argued that the Congress had multiple chances to conduct a caste-based census while in power but had repeatedly failed to do so.

BJP’s IT cell chief Amit Malviya pointed out that in 2010, then PM Manmohan Singh had promised to consider the proposal but eventually limited the exercise to a Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC), not a full caste enumeration. “Congress governments have consistently opposed caste-based census until now,” he said.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju also pushed back against Congress taking credit. “Congress Party had opposed Caste Census & Reservations on records. PM Narendra Modi ji has taken right decision at right time. Congress can only talk, nothing else,” he said in a post on X.

From past denials to present approval
Until recently, the BJP-led government had consistently opposed caste enumeration.

In responses to Parliament questions in 2021 and 2023, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said there were no plans to include caste in the upcoming Census. The Centre told the Supreme Court in 2021 that caste-wise enumeration had been “given up as a matter of policy from 1951 onwards.”

This resistance was in line with broader ideological concerns voiced by BJP leaders and the RSS.

In March, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari publicly criticised caste politics, stating, “A person is not known by their caste, sect, religion, language or sex, but only by their qualities.”

He described refusing caste-based electoral appeals even if it cost him politically. “I told 50,000 people, 'Jo karega jaat ki baat, uske kass ke maarunga laat,’” he said, underlining his commitment to principle over political gain.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP’s ideological parent, has also expressed unease about caste-based enumeration.

RSS spokesperson Sunil Ambekar recently called caste a “sensitive issue” and warned against using caste census as a political weapon. Speaking in Kerala, he said, “It should not be used as a political tool for electioneering... it should be only to address the welfare of those communities and castes.”

(With inputs from ToI, agencies)