Why is caste census important for the BJP and what factors can drive its implementation

The caste census holds importance for the BJP due to several factors: 1. Electoral strategy: The BJP aims to consolidate support among different caste groups and build a broad coalition of voters. It can analyze the data from a caste-based census to devise targeted policies and welfare programs for specific castes, thereby enhancing its electoral prospects. 2. Social engineering: The BJP seeks to influence social dynamics by addressing historically marginalized communities and improving their socio-economic conditions. A caste census can provide accurate data about the extent of social inequality and help formulate effective policies for upliftment. 3. Inclusive governance: A caste census can serve as a tool to ensure equitable distribution of resources and benefits across different caste groups. It can enable the BJP to exhibit its commitment towards inclusive governance and debunk accusations of favoring certain castes. Potential catalysts for implementing a caste census include demands from political allies, pressure from marginalized communities, public awareness campaigns, and judicial interventions to address historical caste-based discrimination.