Caste Census decision is victory of PDA, says Akhilesh 

Samajwadi Party National president Akhilesh Yadav cautioned that only an honest census will ensure every caste gets its rights in proportion to its population. File
| Photo Credit: ANI

The Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday (April 30, 2025) claimed the decision of Caste enumeration is the victory of Opposition forces and PDA social segments, describing it as the first phase of a positive democratic movement.

“The decision of caste census is a 100% victory of the unity of 90% PDA. Due to the combined pressure of all of us, the BJP government has been forced to take this decision. This is a very important phase of PDA’s victory in the fight for social justice,” wrote Mr. Yadav, on X, hours after the Union government announced the decision.

PDA meaning Pichhda, Dalits and Alpsankhyak, acronym for Backwards, Dalit and Minority, a plank used by the SP for political outreach within these segments. 

He cautioned that only an honest census will ensure every caste gets its rights in proportion to its population. “This is a warning to the BJP government to keep its electoral rigging away from the caste census. Only an honest census will ensure that every caste gets its rights and entitlements in proportion to its population, which the dominant castes have been eyeing till now,” he added, hoping the BJP’s hegemonic thinking will come to an end.

EXPLAINED | The case for caste census in India

“This is the first phase of a positive democratic movement for rights and the last phase of BJP’s negative politics. BJP’s hegemonic thinking will surely come to an end. Manvidhan cannot last long in front of the Constitution, This is INDIA victory,” said the SP chief. 

Earlier, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, informed that the Union Cabinet has decided to include caste enumeration as part of the next census. “Under the leadership of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Cabinet Committee of Political Affairs has decided today ( that caste enumeration should be included in the forthcoming Census,” he told the media while holding briefing regarding decisions of the Union Cabinet.