Daijiworld Media Network - Patna

Patna, May 3: The Central government’s green light for a nationwide caste-based census has ignited a political firestorm in Bihar, with rival coalitions—the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Grand Alliance—locked in a battle to claim ownership of the initiative.

In a pointed press briefing at Nawada Circuit House on Friday, Janata Dal (United) MLC and national spokesperson Neeraj Kumar launched a sharp critique of opposition parties, accusing them of distorting the conversation and diminishing the legacy of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Kumar took aim at Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He dismissed their stance on the census as being more about protecting personal wealth than furthering social justice.

“They’re not talking about a caste census; they’re obsessing over a property census,” Kumar alleged. “With Prime Minister Modi, the caste census becomes possible. With Nitish Kumar, it becomes inevitable.”

He credited Nitish Kumar as one of the earliest champions of caste enumeration, dating back to his tenure as Union Agriculture Minister in 1990, and accused the Opposition of hijacking the narrative while lacking genuine commitment.

Kumar also accused Lalu Prasad of abandoning social justice goals after being implicated in the fodder scam, claiming the Opposition now fears the exposure of assets outside Bihar. “They’re afraid of what might come to light if the caste census goes beyond Bihar’s borders,” he said.

The press conference was part of a broader outreach campaign by the NDA, which was initiated following Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary’s recent announcement. The campaign aims to inform citizens about the census and reinforce Prime Minister Modi’s role in making it happen.

Neeraj Kumar’s Nawada visit was a key stop in this campaign, which also featured BJP MLA Aruna Devi and district heads from other NDA allies.

The political battle lines have hardened since Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made the census announcement. Both alliances are scrambling to position the decision as validation of their long-held positions.

As the Bihar Assembly elections approach, the caste census has emerged as a flashpoint—bringing questions of equity, representation, and social justice to the forefront of the political arena.