To woo OBCs, Rahul plans Cong push for caste census-OxBig News Network

To strengthen the Congress’ prospects among the backward communities in Bihar, Rahul Gandhi is set to visit the poll-bound state on April 7 and lead the party’s push for caste census.

This will be the Congress leader’s third visit to Bihar this year and is scheduled to take place just a day ahead of the party’s two-day AICC session in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad. The party insiders said the visit was scheduled after the recent meeting of the party’s top brass with the local Bihar leaders at Indira Bhawan in New Delhi.

“It is the party’s well thought-out strategy with Rahul himself making a point to reach to the backward communities of Bihar. We are going to launch rigorous campaigning on caste census in the state,” said a party insider.

Referring to the recent appointment of Dalit leader Rajesh Kumar as the party’s new state chief, the source said the party was hoping that his appointment could help in consolidation of the state’s backward votes.

Another source said the party had decided to bring up the caste census model on the pattern of Telangana since Bihar has a significant population of backward communities, particularly Dalits.

The Congress aims to inform the public in Bihar that it will hold a fresh caste survey — on the lines of Telangana – if it comes to power. The southern state recently brought a Bill to grant 42 per cent quota to people from the backward communities in government jobs and educational institutions.

Traditionally, the backward communities in Bihar are divided between the present Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JDU and Lalu Prasad Yadav-led RJD. The Congress hopes to work its way through in the community with its push for caste census.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to attend the ‘Save Constitution’ conclave in Patna on April 7. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had attended similar summits in the state on January 18 and February 19.

Rahul had been focusing on OBCs over the past years, saying he was in favour of a national caste census, which will present a correct picture. Recently, in a conversation with Sukhdeo Thorat, former chairman of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the University Grants Commission (UGC), Gandhi emphasised the importance of a caste census for addressing inequalities in India.

According to Gandhi, a caste census would reveal the truth about the systemic control over key sectors.