BJP ally and coalition partner in Bihar, Janata Dal (United) continues to put pressure on the Modi-Government to  announce a caste-based census (including OBCs). Close on the heels of an all-party delegation from Bihar led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to demand the census, former Union Minister and currently the Parliamentary Board head of JD(U) Upendra Kushwaha  on Thursday  sought the Centre to resolve its “inner conflicts” and decide the issue in view of the “popular sentiments”.

All political parties in Bihar  are unanimous in favour of a caste-based census in the country. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a Kurmi by caste and Kushwaha, a koeri, together seek to consolidate Kurmi-Koeri OBC vote bank in the State and are thus backing the caste-based  census .

"There is conflict within the BJP over the issue. Some of its leaders are speaking in favour, some are speaking against. They need to set their house in order,” Kushwaha, who was a Union minister under Modi, said.  Prior to joining the centre as minister he had briefly parted ways with Kumar and floated the Rashtriya  Lok Samata Party.

Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha  member  Sushil Kumar Modi  had also called for a caste-based census joining a chorus for it saying  his party has always supported it and been part of the resolution passed in Bihar assembly in its favour.

On August 23, an 11-member delegation from Bihar led by Nitish called on Modi and demanded a caste-based census across the country.

The  Centre had until last month stuck to its official policy of  not holding caste-based  census as it may fuel a demand for Mandal-2 and  further complicate reservation arithmetic. .

Replying to a written query in the Lok Sabha on July 20 this year, Union minister of state for home Nityanand Rai  said that the central government has decided as a matter of policy not to enumerate caste-wise population other than SCs and STs in the census.

Kushwaha asked the Modi-government to respect “public sentiments” and quickly come out with a decision in favour of  the caste census.                                       

"What is the problem in this digital age? You just have to insert an additional column of caste..... I do not pay much heed to pointless objections. I am hopeful that the meeting of our CM with the PM will bear fruit and the Centre will do the needful," said Kushwaha, who is  a strong backer  of reservation politics and  been favouring   quotas in the judiciary and the private sector.

Bihar legislature  has unanimously passed a resolution  for conducting  caste-based  census .

BJP's allies from UP and Tamil Nadu Apna Dal and PMK respectively have also sought a caste-based census.