POLITICS

Caste survey in Telangana can now bite Congress itself

Caste survey, which the Congress has been using as political rhetoric, could turn into a major headache for the party. With the release of the Telangana caste survey's findings, demands for its implementation are gaining traction right before local body polls in the state. If the demands go unheard, backward classes leaders have threatened a massive state-wide agitation, turning up the heat on the Congress Government. The caste census has revealed that backward classes (except Muslim BCs), make 46.25% of Telangana's population, thereby making them the largest social group in the state. Following the BCs, the report reveals that Scheduled Castes (SCs) account for 17.43%, Scheduled Tribes (STs) make up 10.45%, and Muslim BCs constitute 10.08% of the state population. The nationwide caste census pitch of the Congress has been on the top with Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi as its biggest proponent. The Congress is also said to be a divided house and is sitting on the Karnataka caste survey report prepared seven years ago.

What is strategy behind Jitan Ram Manjhi’s ‘litti-chokha’ party?

The Assembly polls in Bihar are scheduled to be held by the end of this year and now the political analyst are decoding the strategy behind Jitan Ram Manjhi’s ‘litti-chokha’ party. After ‘Dahi-Chuda’ parties marked Makar Sankranti celebrations in January, Union Minister and former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi pleasantly surprised his colleagues when he threw a ‘litti-chokha’ party for them. Those who were in attendance include state Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, several ministers and a host of other dignitaries to relish the traditional cuisine of Bihar. But the most surprising factor was the presence of the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Actually, Manjhi is demanding 20 seats in the state Assembly election, leaving his allies alarmed. Manjhi’s party Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) is the part of NDA alliance with Janata Dal United led by the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The relation of Nitish and Manjhi were strained. And now only time will tell whether the flavour of ‘litti-chokha’ stays for Nitish till the declaration of tickets.