With the Central Government giving the green light for a nationwide caste-based census, the political temperature in Madhya Pradesh has risen sharply. Both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition Congress are vying to position themselves as the true champions of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), a demographic that holds significant electoral weight in the state.
According to the 2011 Census, OBCs made up 41.5 per cent of Madhya Pradesh’s population. However, political observers now estimate the figure has surpassed 52 per cent, making the community crucial in shaping political fortunes.
Reacting to the Centre’s announcement, the Madhya Pradesh Congress claimed credit, asserting that it had been consistently demanding a caste-based census for over five years. “The BJP kept denying it, but our persistence has finally led to this decision,” said MP Congress president Jitu Patwari while talking to The Pioneer. He further announced a state-wide awareness campaign to educate the public about the significance of the caste census and Congress’s role in pushing for it.
“The caste census was a long-pending demand of the Congress party. The people should know that it’s a victory of our stand, even if the announcement has come from the Centre,” Patwari added.
In response, the BJP reminded the public of its track record in empowering OBCs. A senior BJP functionary pointed out that the party has appointed several OBC leaders as Chief Ministers — including Uma Bharti, Babulal Gaur, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and the incumbent Mohan Yadav.
“The Congress, on the other hand, has never allowed an OBC leader to take the top job. When Shivbhanu Singh Solanki was elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party, he was deliberately denied the Chief Minister’s post,” the functionary alleged.
The political debate has also reignited discussions about OBC reservation in the state. Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath’s 2018 decision to raise OBC reservation to 27 per cent has remained unimplemented. “That move was a milestone,” said a Congress leader. “But within just 18 months, our government was toppled, and even after seven years of BJP rule, the decision is still pending implementation.”
Congress leaders argue that the failure to implement the enhanced reservation is an injustice to the OBC community. “OBCs still do not have adequate representation. The BJP talks big but fails to deliver on the ground,” Patwari said.
As Madhya Pradesh gears up for the next Assembly elections, both parties are expected to intensify their outreach to OBC voters. The caste census and its implications could well become a decisive factor in shaping the state’s political future.