The Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Saturday reportedly promised a higher reservation limit for the SCs, STs, and OBCs. At present, the limit is 50% as per a Supreme Court mandate. In some States like Tamil Nadu, the limit has long exceeded the ceiling. The Congress party now wants the limit to be raised on the national level.
In this regard, it is believed that the Grand Old Party, led by Rahul Gandhi, will do a nationwide caste census should the UPA come to power in 2024 at the Centre.
The caste census has been opposed by the BJP because it doesn't want to open Pandora's Box. "If the census throws up various unexpected findings, caste-based parties and the Congress will make a multitude of demands in the name of social justice. Caste-based vote bank politics will dominate the national political discourse. The BJP fears that casteism coming to dominate the discourse will result in the waning of the influence of Hindutva and nationalism," an analyst once said.
There are also fears that the Congress party, in collaboration with caste-based parties like the SP and the RJD, is planning to demand the implementation of caste-based reservations in the private sector.
