Senior NCP leader and OBC face of Maharashtra, Chhagan Bhujbal, on Thursday lent strong support to the demand for a nationwide caste census, reigniting the ongoing debate around caste-based reservations in India. Speaking to reporters, Bhujbal emphasized the persistent legal hurdles faced by the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in securing their rightful share in governance and policy.
“We should get our reservation. Even now, the issue of our quota in local self-governing bodies is stuck in the Supreme Court,” said Bhujbal, who represents the Yeola assembly constituency in Nashik district.
“Conduct a caste census,” he asserted, underlining the need for accurate data to ensure fair distribution of opportunities based on population demographics.
His statement aligns with the longstanding demand of the opposition Congress party, which has been pushing for a caste census to better structure welfare and reservation schemes. As calls for caste-based data grow louder, Bhujbal’s remarks mark a clear stance from a key leader in Maharashtra’s political landscape.
