Prashant Kishor Slams Both BJP and Congress Over Caste Census, Calls It Political One-Upmanship
Suraaj founder and political strategist Prashant Kishor on Thursday weighed in on the Centre’s announcement to include caste data in the upcoming national census, saying the move is driven more by political competition than genuine concern for social reform.
This issue has become a tool for political one-upmanship rather than a step toward real social change,” Kishor told. He pointed out that the BJP, which is already in power in Bihar, oversaw a caste-based survey in the state two years ago but has not acted on its findings. “The BJP should explain what the Bihar government has done with that data,” he added.
Kishor also aimed at the Congress, whose leaders have been quick to claim credit for the Centre’s decision, framing it as a result of Rahul Gandhi’s persistent advocacy.
Congress is currently in power in Karnataka, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh. Who is stopping Rahul Gandhi from implementing welfare schemes based on the caste data already available in these states? Kishor asked. He seems to have only recently realised that caste data could help improve the situation. But let’s be clear—this isn’t about uplifting communities. It’s about using caste divisions for political gain.
He emphasised that while conducting a caste census can be a useful exercise, it alone is not a solution to the challenges faced by backwards communities. Surveys that provide insight into people’s conditions are good in principle. But the problem lies in the intent. This is not being done to uplift marginalised sections of society—it’s being done to exploit caste lines for electoral advantage,” he said.
On Wednesday, the Centre announced that caste enumeration would be included in the next population census for the first time since India’s independence. The announcement, made by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, came after years of political back-and-forth on the issue. Vaishnaw noted that while some states had attempted caste-based surveys, they often lacked transparency and created confusion in society.
Rahul Gandhi welcomed the Centre’s “sudden” shift, after more than a decade of opposition to the idea, and credited the Congress party’s sustained campaign for the policy reversal. However, he also demanded a clear timeline for implementation. The pressure we put on the government has worked,” Gandhi said, calling the decision a win for the people.
