DC Edit | RSS backing caste census spells a problem for BJP

The cautious clearance that the BJP’s ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, has given to the idea of conducting a caste-based census nevertheless puts it in a serious dilemma. Despite consistent opposition to the idea by the BJP, voiced by its senior leaders including Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, the RSS, after a just-concluded brainstorming session in Kerala, greenlighted the idea. The Congress Party, realising its electoral potential, then took it up and in so serious a manner that it became the favourite theme of speeches party leader Rahul Gandhi delivered across the country during his campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Caste has been one of the major differentiators in Indian social life and the very idea of reservation for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes was introduced in the Constitution as a means to ensure adequate participation of people historically denied their rightful share in the resources of society.