Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday revealed that he will lead an 11-member delegation, one each from the state’s political parties, in the upcoming meeting with the prime minister. Narendra Modi Speaking to reporters here on his return from a survey of flood-affected areas of Samastipur district on the issue of caste census, Kumar also said that he would leave for New Delhi on Sunday night. The meeting is scheduled for the first half of Monday. Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav is also among those joining him.
He also sought to throw light on questions about the BJP, their alliance partner, electing a Dalit minister to join the delegation, although both their representatives deserved the bill as they belonged to backward classes. This is not an issue. Each party can nominate one person who is also a member of either House of the Legislature. So all the parties sent their names accordingly. Besides me, there will be 10 delegates, all representing their respective parties, Kumar said when asked about the saffron party taking Janak Ram as a member of the delegation.
This has created ruckus within both the ruling NDA and the opposition Grand Alliance as deputy CMs Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi, the latter who holds the Backward Classes Welfare portfolio, were seen as a more viable option. The demand for caste census was triggered by a statement by the Center in Parliament last month that only the population of SCs and STs were proposed to be enumerated.
In states like Bihar, where OBCs have dominated politics since the Mandal era, this has given rise to a strong demand for counting backward classes as well. Kumar reiterated that there is a nationwide sentiment in favor of conducting the caste census at least once. There should be no misunderstanding as such practice will be beneficial for all social groups.
The chief minister had sought an appointment with the PM after Mahagathbandhan leaders made a request to this effect, who pointed out that the state legislature has twice unanimously passed a resolution in favor of the caste census. Significantly, on both the occasions, all the BJP MLAs also voted in favor. However, the state unit of the party has been at odds of late with the top leadership taking a different stand. The chief minister was also asked whether his government was ready to conduct a state-specific exercise in case the demand from the Center was shelved.
We will decide when the time comes. Let us first see what happens in the meeting with the PM,” quipped Kumar.
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