TIMING OF THE CASTE CENSUS

There is much speculation as to the timing of the Modi Government's decision to go ahead and implement the caste census.

- PRIYA SAHGAL

This has been for long the demand of the opposition, specially Rahul Gandhi. But the BJP has been avoiding a commitment on this, stating that this could be a move to create a division amongst the Hindus.

In the war between Hindutva and Mandal the BJP has always been on the side of the former while of course reaching out to the OBCs, Dalits and backwards through other means. Then what changed? The most obvious answer could be the coming Bihar elections for caste playing a prominent role in the hindi heartland. The BJP's ally JD(U) has for long been uncomfortable with the ruling party's stand on the caste census.

The other could be that this is a distraction from the talk of war that has followed the Pahalgam terror attack. But, that would be to assume that the Modi Government takes such an important decision merely as a distraction. There is definitely more to this turnaround than meets the eye. The Bihar polls are only half the answer. The rest of the strategy will unfold in its own time.