Agnipath, caste census, UCC: NDA allies' stance on key issues as BJP seeks 'sabka sath'

Several sticky issues will likely come to the fore when the NDA formalises its new government, backed by allies, including TDP, JSP, JD(U), Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), LJP-Ram Vilas, JD(S), and RLD.

As a majority-less BJP forms its third government at the Centre, it will have to keep the priorities and demands of its NDA allies in mind while it navigates the next five years in power.

NDA partners like TDP's Chandrababu Naidu and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar have often raked up several issues that the BJP can ill-afford to brush aside, even if they don't align with the party's agenda.

Some of these issues include the demand for a caste census, raising quota for certain communities, and a review of the Agniveer scheme as well as Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

Here's the stance of key NDA allies on these issues:

Chandrababu Naidu | TDP

TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, early this May, reasserted his stance on providing four percent reservation to the Muslim community in Andhra Pradesh.

"We’ve supported a four percent reservation for Muslims from the very beginning, and will continue to do so,” Naidu had said. He also made a mention of this during an interview with ANI.

A week prior to that, the Andhra Pradesh chief minister-elect had also announced a financial aid of Rs 1 lakh would be distributed to Muslim pilgrims visiting Mecca once the BJP-TDP-JSP alliance comes to power in the state.

"Immediately after the NDA assumes power in the state, a Rs 1 lakh financial assistance will be extended to every Muslim who visits Mecca on the Haj pilgrimage," Naidu had declared during his interaction with the Muslim community.

In context with the caste census, Naidu had earlier expressed strong support for a caste-based census in India but later shifted his stance during his talks with the BJP regarding government formation. Now, the TDP Supremo has expressed his favour for a skill census instead of a caste census, describing it as a progressive and productive approach.

"The primary goal of skill census is to identify individuals' specific skills and provide appropriate training, which would ultimately enhance their productivity and future prospects," he had stated.

Moreover, TDP remains undecided on the proposal of Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which aims to replace the personal laws of various religious communities with a common set of laws for all citizens.

Nitish Kumar | JD(U)

In 2016, the JD(U) leader sought raising the quota of reservation from 50 percent, and said Dalit Muslims and Christians should be provided reservation.

“Dalit Muslims and Christians should also be provided reservation, like Dalit Buddhists and Sikhs", he had stated.

Last year, Bihar also conducted its much-anticipated caste-based survey under the Nitish Kumar government. Kumar had emphasised that the goal is to obtain a clear estimate of the financial situation of all communities to aid in developmental work.

Before the joining NDA earlier this year, he strongly advocated for conducting a caste-based census, viewing it as crucial for understanding and addressing the socio-economic disparities among different communities in the state.

Here's a quote from Nitish in January 2023:

"Since the outset, we have advocated for a nationwide caste-based census to collect data on the status of individuals from various castes and facilitate their upliftment. Following the 2011 Census, although the government conducted a caste-based count, it was not executed accurately and the results were not disclosed. We urged them to conduct the count properly once more, but they did not accede to our request."

Additionally, his party has also sought a review of the Agnipath scheme. Two days after the election results, senior JD(U) leader KC Tyagi on June 6 said that his party had offered unconditional support to BJP-led NDA but wanted the shortcomings in the 'Agnipath' scheme to the discussed in detail.

The Agnipath Scheme in the Indian Armed Forces enrolls candidates as "Agniveers" for a four-year period, after which up to 25 percent may be selected for the permanent cadre based on organizational needs and policies. Agniveers who complete their term can apply for permanent enrollment.

However, JD(U) has softened his stance on UCC and indicated that it back the legislation if there is consensus among all stakeholders.

Chirag Paswan | LJP (RV)

Chirag Paswan sings the same tune as BJP on the proposal of raising quotas for specific communities.

For instance, in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections, Paswan came down heavily on the Congress for endorsing reservation benefits to "a specific religious community" by "snatching away" the benefits from OBCs. He also cited Karnataka's example, saying that "snatched" reservation benefits from OBCs and providd those to "a particular religious community".

But when it comes to caste census, Paswan said that he completely supports the idea of a nation-wide caste census.

"Governments have been rolling out schemes in a bid to help the deprived groups enter the mainstream sectors. For this, governments need caste-based data for planning and preparing schemes". However, Paswan said that, this data should not be allowed to be used for other purposes.

On Agniveer, Paswan that he is in favour of a review of the Agnipath scheme.

Eknath Shinde | Shiv Sena

In December 2023, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde had emphasised the importance of considering the sentiments of all sections of society before making a decision on the caste-based census.

He highlighted Maharashtra's progressive nature and its unique cultural and traditional fabric, where communities and castes coexist, collaborate, and celebrate together.

"A decision would be made after consulting all sections of society, ensuring that the sentiments of the people are duly taken into account", he had said. He had also noted that the Sena and BJP were collaborating in a progressive state where all castes coexist.

Ajit Pawar | NCP

The Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) had supported the demand for a caste-based census in their party's manifesto released before the Lok Sabha polls.

Pawan Kalyan | Jana Sena

JSP President Pawan Kalyan declared this May that despite his party's alliance with the BJP, he opposes the removal of reservations for Muslims. He noted that JSP firmly stands against religion-based politics.

Kalyan also explained that within an alliance, parties might have differing principles and policies. "No parties will agree on 100 percent on all issues in an alliance. An alliance takes shape when the allies agree upon around 80 percent of issues. There will certainly be differences in the rest 20 percent," he had said.

Last year, Kalyan highlighted the need for a 'caste census' in Andhra Pradesh to facilitate the formulation of policies aimed at uplifting all segments of society.

"I firmly advocate for a caste-based census, which would serve as a valuable tool in shaping policies for the betterment of all societal groups," he had stated.

HD Deve Gowda | JD(S)

In 1995, the HD Deve Gowda government in Karnataka granted a four percent reservation to Muslims under a distinct classification, 2B, within the OBC quota. This decision was based on the implementation of the Justice O Chinnappa Reddy Commission report, submitted in 1990. The report recommended reservations for a wide spectrum of castes in the state, including Muslim minorities who were categorised under several classes.

Jayant Chaudhary | RLD

Joining the debate on Muslim quotas in May, Jayant Chaudhary emphasised that such measures are unconstitutional and pose a threat to the secular fabric of the nation.

However, Chaudhary has also been a proponent of a caste-based census.

According to the RLD chief, true equality in the country cannot be achieved until a caste census is conducted. In 2022, at a social justice conclave organised by the RLD, he had stated, "Ensuring social justice is part of my legacy, and I consider it my moral duty to address economic and social inequality through a caste census. I am committed to standing firm on this principle.

While being part of the INDIA bloc, Chaudhary, in January, had stated that if the opposition comes to power after the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls, it would abolish the Agniveer scheme.

Chaudhary's opposition to the Agniveer scheme is understandable, as his primary voter base comprises Jat voters who reportedly are unhappy over the scheme.