Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Jitendra Awhad, under the leadership of Sharad Pawar, has commended the Bihar government’s recent caste survey and has fervently advocated for a similar exercise to be carried out in all Indian states, including Maharashtra. Awhad has expressed concerns that the rights of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) are being compromised and has called for a more inclusive approach.
In a video message shared on the social media platform X, Jitendra Awhad, who represents the Mumbra-Kalwa constituency in Thane district of Maharashtra, hailed Bihar’s progressive stance on conducting a caste-based census. He highlighted the revelation that OBCs constitute a substantial 61 percent of Bihar’s population. In combination with Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, these communities collectively account for 85 percent of Bihar’s population. Awhad asserted that these findings mirror the broader demographic reality of India.
Citing the principles of Bahujan Samaj Party founder Kanshi Ram and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, he reiterated that OBCs, as the most backward, deserve reservations. Awhad accused authorities of attempting to suppress the Bihar caste survey findings, emphasizing the necessity for a comprehensive caste-based census across all Indian states, following Bihar’s commendable example. He concluded by calling on the people to recognize the infringement on their rights and the need for collective action. In a written post accompanying the video, Awhad emphasized that if the total population of Backward Classes, including OBCs, SCs, and STs, accounts for 80 to 84 percent, capping reservations at 50 percent is an injustice.
“The Maharashtra legislature has passed a resolution for a caste-based census, which was supported by the then leader of opposition and now Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
So everybody should come together and start a caste-based census in Maharashtra,” he said. He urged the government to live up to its commitment to the welfare of the underprivileged and common citizens, emphasizing the need for concrete action. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the state government will get details of the caste survey carried out by the Bihar government and CM Eknath Shinde will take a decision on it at the right time.
Except Bihar no other state has done such “caste census”, not even those ruled by the Congress which has been demanding such an exercise. We will get the details of the caste census and the CM will take appropriate action at the right time,” said Fadnavis.