'It Won't Take Long': Bihar CM Nitish Kumar On State-Level Caste Census

Speaking to the reporters, Kumar stated that he had also informed the leader of the opposition Tejashwi Yadav regarding the state-leve caste census last week when they met to discuss the issue. 

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. (Source: Getty Images)

New Delhi: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday stated that work on a state-level caste-based census "will not take long," news agency PTI reported. Nitish Kumar had agreed to a state-level caste-based census after the Centre acknowledged its inability to conduct one on a national level.

Speaking to the reporters, the Bihar CM said that he had also informed the leader of the opposition Tejashwi Yadav regarding the state-leve caste census last week when they met to discuss the issue. 

"Zyada der nahin lagega (it will not take long) .. We will convene an all-party meeting where representatives can give their suggestions. It will be followed by a cabinet approval. Modalities like how many officials to deploy etc will also be worked out," Kumar was quoted by PTI in its report. 

Nitish Kumar also acknowledged that the proposed all party meeting could have taken place earlier, however, in view of the "other engagements like elections which kept all busy," was postponed for the time being. 

Regarding meeting with Yadav, who had been allegedly procrastinating on the issue, Bihar CM said, "Humne unko bata diya hai (I have told him)." 

Despite considerable demand from political parties in Bihar, where resolutions have twice been approved unanimously by the state assembly, the Centre has made it plain that it would not be able to undertake a headcount of castes other than Dalits and tribals as part of the census.

The OBCs, a numerically dominant socioeconomic group to which both Kumar and Yadav belong, have controlled state politics, and they believe that a new population estimate is required to enable more efficient distribution of targeted welfare.

Kumar had already met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pursue the issue last year, leading an all-party team that included RJD leader Yadav.

(With Inputs From PTI)