Caste census issue will be game changing for Congress, what is the strategy?

Maharashtra Election 2024: Now less than a week is left for voting for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, and all the political parties are engaged in election campaign with full force. During the election campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accused the Congress and the Maha Vikas Aghadi of dividing the society into castes. After this statement, the Congress and the Maha Vikas Aghadi have retaliated and accused the Prime Minister and the BJP of opposing the caste census. Congress is seen in a particularly aggressive stance on this issue.

Congress's tough stand on caste census

The Congress is seeing this statement as an opportunity. The party has included the caste census in its election agenda to respond to the Prime Minister's allegation. The Congress under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi has decided that on the basis of this statement, they will try to prove the Prime Minister and the BJP as opponents of the caste census. Along with this, the Congress is also emphasizing on its promise to increase the limit of reservation, so that the balance of social justice can be maintained in the state.

Congress's prospects in Maharashtra and the message of social justice

The Congress hopes that the land of Maharashtra, which is the land of great personalities like Sahu Ji Maharaj and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, will get support on the issue of social justice. The message of social justice for the backward and Dalit classes in the state can go in favor of the Congress. Congress is also trying to fulfill the demand for Maratha reservation with the promise of breaking the reservation limit, which can get them the support of the Maratha community.

Election strategy: unemployment, inflation and caste census

In the last phase of the election, the Congress is planning to take to the public the issues of unemployment, inflation, farmer problems as well as the allegations against the BJP of promoting Maharashtra's Project Gujarat. The Congress believes that raising the caste census loudly along with these issues can give it an edge in the elections. The party is trying to repeat the support received during the Lok Sabha elections in the assembly elections as well.

Political stir on caste census in Uttar Pradesh too

The issue of caste census will not be limited to Maharashtra only due to the Prime Minister's statement. In Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party is also trying to corner the BJP in the state on this issue. The Samajwadi Party is busy promoting the caste census as well as the PDA (Backward, Dalit, Minority) alliance, so that it can challenge the BJP in the by-elections.

Conclusion

The issue of caste census can bring a new twist in the Maharashtra assembly elections. The Congress and the Samajwadi Party are using this issue as a weapon against the BJP in the electoral field. The issue of caste census and breaking the reservation limit can become a center of attraction for those sections who want the benefit of reservation on the basis of their numbers. It remains to be seen how much impact this issue of caste census has in the Maharashtra elections and whether it helps the Congress achieve its goals.