Nitish Kumar quit INDIA bloc because Congress dragged feet on caste census: Sanjay Jha

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar walked out of the INDIA bloc and joined the NDA ahead of the Lok Sabha elections held last year. (PTI/File)

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the leader who stitched the Opposition's INDIA bloc, walked out of the alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha elections as the Congress party did not agree to include the issue of caste census in the alliance's agenda, Janata Dal (United) working president Sanjay Kumar Jha has said.

Jha's remarks came a day after the Centre announced that the Cabinet Committee of Political Affairs that met in New Delhi on Tuesday had decided to include caste enumeration in the upcoming population census.

The issue of a pan-India caste census has been a constant demand made by the Congress, particularly by party leader Rahul Gandhi. Soon after the Centre's announcement, Rahul addressed a press conference and credited the Congress for forcing the government's hand on conducting a caste census.

However, Sanjay Jha countered the Congress which is claiming credit for the decision and accused it of dragging its feet on the issue of caste census ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

"They should not fool people. Why didn't they do it when they were in power at the Centre? Eventually, PM Modi had o do it and that's what people will remember," Jha said.

"In fact, Nitish Kumar left the INDIA alliance precisely on this issue. Nitish Kumar ha proposed in its Bengaluru meeting that the issue of caste census be included in the alliance's agenda. Congress then said it would be discussed at the Mumbai meeting. When it was pushed again in the Mumbai meeting, TMC opposed. Congress then put it on backburner, saying it would be taken u later. Nitish Kumar had then told me" 'They won't be able to do it.' That was the trigger for him to walk out," the Rajya Sabha MP added.

Notably, Bihar was the first state to conduct and release the data of its caste-based survey and had been pressing for a similar pan-India exercise to be undertaken by the Centre. After the Centre's announcement, the JD(U) welcomed the decision.

"We are part of the government at the Centre and it is an NDA decision. Our party and our leader have always been demanding this. Nitish Kumar was the first Chief Minister to implement this in Bihar," Jha said, adding that the Centre will be able to plan its schemes better and that the exercise will act as a huge boost to the socio-economic condition of the disadvantaged in the country.