For the first time since independence people are choosing nationalistic oriented development over caste-based politics, India is seeing unity cutting across caste lines but this unity is hurting India's politicians who rely on caste-based vote banks to fill their monetary bank accounts with ill-gotten wealth.

Bi-partisan consensus on policy matters is a rare once in a blue moon event in Indian politics but in a bizarre turn of events politicians cutting across party, lines are demanding caste-based census.

CM of Bihar Nitish Kumar, LOP of Bihar Tejashwi Yadav, and other important political leaders from Bihar together met the PM on Monday to demand the same in a bi-partisan manner. NCP, JDU, RLD, Communists, DMK, TMC, Congress you name the party and they are supporting this divisive idea. BJP too is acting soft on this issue.

"The Prime Minister listened to all members of the delegation on caste census in the state. We urged the PM to take an appropriate decision on it. We briefed him on how resolutions have been passed twice in the state assembly on caste census," Nitish Kumar told reporters after meeting the Prime Minister at South Block.

"People in Bihar and the entire country are of the same opinion on this issue. We are grateful to the PM for listening to us. Now, he has to take a decision on it," the Chief Minister said. "Caste census will help in formulating development plans effectively."

Tejashwi said that if animals, trees can be counted, so can people. "Caste census will be historic pro-poor measure. Opposition always supported the government for pro-people, pro-nation measures."
"We are awaiting a decision on this now," the RJD leader said

Caste data which must be used for development-oriented policy framing is being used to widen the fissures in Indian society.The last caste-based census happened during the British time, later on, it was discontinued as great social justice warriors like Babasaheb Ambedkar thought that it would create divisions in the society and a dream of " casteless " India would not be achieved.

The caste-based census should be opposed by any right-thinking Indian as it will open a pandora's box where political parties just to gain few votes can create divisive narratives instead of development-oriented ones in election season. Mandal politics could be re-ignited for petty political gains resulting in anarchy. The shift of the Indian electoral theme from development to caste will take back India 100 years in time.

Political parties who are unable to deliver development and nationalistic unity are already using caste themes in heinous crime reporting to manufacture an artificial caste divide to gain votes, this type of divisive census will be a golden gift to them.

Interestingly, the BJP which calls itself the " most nationalistic party " is going soft on this issue raised by the opposition, with some quarters even supporting the demand. BJP national general secretary Pankaja Munde has tweeted in support of this census and all BJP legislatures from Bihar are supporting this move. However, the central government had said no such data will be collected in the Parliament and the PM has not outrightly promised such census after the meeting on Monday. However, the BJP is in a dilemma and the doublespeak shows the same.