Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has sharply criticized both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress for their inconsistent stance on the caste census, accusing them of betraying the aspirations of Bahujans and OBCs for decades, reported the NewsMinute.
Reacting to the central government’s recent announcement of including caste-based enumeration in the upcoming national census, Mayawati termed the move “reluctant and overdue.” She alleged that the decision is not driven by genuine concern but by growing electoral pressure and the rising political consciousness among backward communities.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said, “The BJP and Congress are now competing to appear as OBC-friendly, but their historical records reflect persistent exclusion and exploitation of backward and Dalit communities.”
She argued that if these mainstream parties were truly committed to social justice, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s vision of dignity and self-respect for the oppressed would have been realized long ago. Mayawati also highlighted that it is the growing awareness among OBCs—nurtured by Ambedkarite movements and the BSP’s efforts—that has forced national parties to act under political compulsion.
“The real empowerment of Bahujan Samaj lies in strengthening the BSP,” she asserted. Urging the marginalized to assert their political agency, she reiterated the slogan: “Vote hamara, raj tumhara nahi chalega” (Our vote, your rule—this won’t continue).
Mayawati warned that token gestures by national parties would not bring lasting change and called for a united and organized struggle to secure meaningful justice and representation for Dalits, OBCs, and other backward classes.
The caste census debate has taken center stage in national politics ahead of the elections, with opposition parties pushing the demand aggressively. Some states including Bihar, Telangana, and Karnataka have already completed or initiated their own caste-based surveys.
