In just a year, Rahul Gandhi’s stance on Bihar’s caste census has changed – and this raises a lot of questions ahead of the assembly elections.
In January 2024, Rahul Gandhi had reached Bihar with Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, this was the time when Nitish Kumar had changed sides, left the INDIA block and joined BJP in NDA. Rahul Gandhi had then tried to give the credit of the caste census to Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav, and also to take some credit himself – but now he has declared the same caste census of Bihar as fake.
Congress had planned Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Patna during the Delhi elections, and it was also widely publicized. Rahul Gandhi, who reached Patna, met the entire family of RJD leader Lalu Yadav in a very pleasant atmosphere. A picture of Rahul Gandhi and Lalu Yadav hugging has also surfaced. After a similar meeting with Lalu Yadav in 2015, Arvind Kejriwal had said that he had not hugged but Lalu Yadav had hugged him – I don’t know how Rahul Gandhi felt but it was like this that he had a smile on his face. Just dismissing the questions.
But what Rahul Gandhi has said regarding the much publicized caste census of Bihar is a direct attack on Nitish Kumar, but clearly the target is Tejashwi Yadav.
Is this a reaction to Lalu Yadav’s support to Mamata Banerjee for leadership in the INDIA block? And, is this indicating India Bloc’s situation in Bihar also like Delhi?
1. Why did Rahul Gandhi’s stand change on Bihar’s caste census?
Rahul Gandhi has termed the caste census conducted in Bihar as fake and said that the people there have been fooled – and at the same time, Rahul Gandhi has also reiterated that the Congress will survive only by conducting the caste census at any cost.
In the ‘Constitution Security Conference’ at Patna’s Bapu Auditorium, Rahul Gandhi said, the population of Dalits, minorities and socially marginalized people is ninety percent of the total population of the country… but those people are not a part of the system… this is the reason That we are demanding caste census.
Rahul Gandhi has been insisting on conducting caste census in the country since the time of 2023 assembly elections. They also call it X-ray. In the 2024 general elections, the emphasis on caste census of both Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav was seen. Tejashwi Yadav said, ‘Along with development, we conducted caste-based census… and also increased the limit of reservation… we did what we said.
Earlier Rahul Gandhi has also been endorsing this. Rahul Gandhi, who reached Bihar exactly a year ago, had said, ‘I clearly told Nitish Kumar… Look, you will have to conduct caste census in Bihar… We will not give you exemption.’
Then Rahul Gandhi had also explained how Congress and RJD had put pressure on Nitish Kumar to get the caste census done. Rahul Gandhi said, ‘…after this pressure came from the other side…BJP does not want this country to be X-rayed…milk of milk will turn into water of water…it will be known how many Are you a Dalit? They are tribals, they are poor… BJP does not want this.
At that time, Rahul Gandhi was explaining that the caste census in Bihar was not because of Nitish Kumar, but because of Tejashwi Yadav being in the government – and because of the effective role of Congress in the Grand Alliance or India Bloc.
The question is, what is Rahul Gandhi trying to explain afresh by calling the caste census of Bihar fake?
Does he want to stop Nitish Kumar as well as Tejashwi Yadav from taking credit for the caste census?
Has Rahul Gandhi taken this step to teach Lalu Yadav a lesson?
Rahul Gandhi meets Lalu Yadav’s family smilingly in Patna, but with his new statement it seems he is reiterating that regional parties do not have any ideology, which Congress has, and that is why Congress is big i.e. All India. Is a political party.
Has Rahul Gandhi already started putting pressure on Lalu Yadav to step back regarding the leadership of India Bloc and for Congress to have a bigger share in the seat distribution in the upcoming assembly elections?
2. Will the condition of INDIA block in Bihar be the same as in Delhi?
In the Delhi Assembly elections, divisions are clearly visible in the India Block. On one hand, Congress is seen alone in the election field, and on the other hand, Aam Aadmi Party has the support of TMC and Samajwadi Party.
Arvind Kejriwal has the full support of Mamata Banerjee as well as Akhilesh Yadav – and the result is that Rahul Gandhi is also seen standing on the front.
It already seemed that Lalu Yadav’s advice to make Mamata Banerjee the leader of India Bloc would definitely prove effective.
3. Is Congress going to contest Bihar elections alone?
Has Congress decided to contest elections alone in Bihar like Delhi, and Rahul Gandhi’s latest statement on Caste Census is indicating the same?
Some political experts believe that the India Bloc will end after the Delhi elections – and that is why the question is being raised whether the Congress will fight the Bihar elections alone like in Delhi?
