Congress leader Rahul Gandhi declared on Saturday that his party would conduct a nationwide caste census immediately if voted to power at the Centre. Speaking at a public meeting in Madhya Pradesh’s Shajapur district, Gandhi emphasized this would reveal the exact population of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in India.
“Our first action upon forming government will be initiating the caste census. Nobody currently knows the true numbers of OBC communities across India,” Gandhi told the crowd in Kalapipal assembly constituency. The announcement comes ahead of crucial state elections in Madhya Pradesh.
The Wayanad MP launched sharp criticisms against the ruling BJP, alleging that real governance power lies with unelected officials rather than people’s representatives. “Only about 90 bureaucrats – cabinet secretary and secretaries – actually run this country. BJP’s MPs and MLAs have zero role in lawmaking,” he claimed.
Gandhi further accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of controlling policy decisions instead of elected BJP members. His remarks targeted the BJP’s organizational structure where the ideological parent organization plays a significant advisory role.
Turning to local issues, Gandhi labeled Madhya Pradesh as India’s “corruption capital,” referencing several scandals. “From Vyapam scam to selling MBBS degrees, leaking exam papers to Mahakal Lok corridor irregularities – this state has seen it all under BJP rule,” he alleged.
The Congress leader also highlighted agrarian distress, stating that 18,000 farmers have died by suicide in Madhya Pradesh over 18 years. His speech focused on connecting with OBC communities and farmers, key voter bases in the upcoming state elections.
Political analysts note Gandhi’s renewed emphasis on caste census follows the party’s successful implementation of similar exercises in Karnataka and Telangana. The promise aims to counter BJP’s recent approval of including caste data in the 2025 national census.
The rally formed part of Congress’s campaign strategy for Madhya Pradesh polls, where the party seeks to regain power after 2020. Gandhi’s allegations about bureaucratic control over governance mirror opposition criticisms about centralization of power under the current regime.
As election season intensifies, the caste census promise is likely to become a major talking point, especially among OBC communities comprising significant portions of the electorate in Hindi heartland states like Madhya Pradesh.
The Congress leadership believes this focus on social justice and transparency in caste data could help rebuild its traditional voter base ahead of crucial state and national elections. However, the BJP has dismissed these claims as desperate political maneuvering by an opposition lacking substantive agenda.
Disclaimer: This report is based on Rahul Gandhi’s public speech. Claims about government functioning and statistics should be verified through official sources.
Source: NDTV
