Congress Working Committee Discusses Assembly Elections 2023 and Caste Census Implications
In preparation for the upcoming assembly elections in five states in 2023, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) gathered on Monday in Delhi. The crucial meeting was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, chief ministers of Congress-ruled states, and other top party leaders. This meeting held significance as the Election Commission of India (ECI) was also set to announce the dates for polling in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram.
While discussions on candidates and strategies were expected, the CWC meeting also focused on a plan for a nationwide caste census and its implications. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has been advocating for a caste census, accusing the Narendra Modi-led government of being against the backward castes. The Rajasthan government recently announced its intention to conduct a caste census, following in the footsteps of Bihar. Similarly, the Congress party in Chhattisgarh stated that it would conduct a caste census if it regains power. Karnataka, already ruled by the Congress, has already announced a caste census with results expected later this year.
Considering these developments, the Congress party is likely to approach the discussion with an eye on the 2024 Lok Sabha election, as well as the demands from various regional parties for a caste census. The release of Bihar’s caste survey report on October 2 has garnered support from many political parties, further fueling the call for caste surveys across states.
However, concerns remain within a section of the Congress party regarding the politically sensitive nature of the demands for a caste census. Recently, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi expressed concerns over Rahul Gandhi’s slogan jitni abaadi, utna haq (rights proportionate to population), arguing that it could be seen as an endorsement of majoritarianism. Singhvi later deleted his post after the Congress distanced itself from his remarks.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in response to the Congress party’s push for an Other Backward Classes (OBC) census, accused the opposition party of attempting to divide Hindus. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in line with former PM Rajiv Gandhi’s opposition to the Mandal Commission in Parliament, has consistently voiced its disapproval of conducting a caste census.
With the election battle about to commence, the Election Commission will announce the voting dates for the five states on Monday. The Congress party aims to retain its governments in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, as well as reclaim Madhya Pradesh from the BJP. Additionally, it seeks to win back the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana and the Mizo National Front (MNF) in Mizoram.
The opposition parties have faced challenges recently, such as the arrest of AAP MP Sanjay Singh in the Delhi liquor policy case. This action has been widely condemned by members of the I.N.D.I.A parties. While the Congress condemned Singh’s arrest, it also pointed out similar actions against its leaders in Punjab by the AAP government, including the arrest of the head of its farmers’ wing in a drugs-related case, Sukhpal Khaira.
The last CWC meeting was held in Hyderabad on September 16. The Congress Working Committee is comprised of 39 regular members, 32 permanent invitees, and 13 special invitees, including 15 women and several new faces.
This article provides a summary of the Congress Working Committee’s gathering to strategize for the upcoming assembly elections in 2023. It highlights the discussions surrounding a caste census and its implications. As the election dates are soon to be announced, the Congress party aims to retain power in certain states and regain it in others, while also facing challenges from the arrest of party members by the AAP government. The CWC meeting serves as a platform for important decisions and discussions about the party’s future strategies.
