Rahul pushes for backward class politics

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has begun preparing to expand the Congress party's outreach to backward classes on a large scale.

- AJIT MAINDOLA NEW DELHI

As part of this strategy, Gandhi plans to give more opportunities to Dalits and other backward classes by reshaping state-level party organisations. At the national level, the party is also likely to form an OBC Advisory Committee or Council to signal that Congress is the true well-wisher of backward communities. Prominent OBC leaders will be included in this council, which will guide the party's OBC department on advancing issues of social justice and strategies to connect with the backward classes.

Congress is continuing to exert pressure on the central government to conduct a caste census. Through organisational changes, Gandhi aims to send a strong message that Congress is the real party of the backward classes.