Caste Census: Who Stands To Gain In Odisha And Where Does Opposition BJD Fit In?
This move has swiftly turned into a political contest over who deserves credit for it — an expected reaction in a democracy where political mileage often rides on public narratives and perceptions.
Bhubaneswar: In a landmark decision on April 30, the Narendra Modi-led central government resolved to conduct a caste-based census in India — a long-pending demand from parties like the Indian National Congress, Janata Dal (United), Samajwadi Party, and Odisha’s regional Biju Janata Dal (BJD), among others. This move has swiftly turned into a political contest over who deserves credit for it — an expected reaction in a democracy where political mileage often rides on public narratives and perceptions.
Caste Census: A persistent demand in Odisha
The demand for a caste census in Odisha isn’t new. For decades, political parties and social groups have called for official data to better gauge the socio-economic conditions of the state’s Other Backward Classes (OBC), who constitute over 50 per cent of the population. Despite this, OBCs in Odisha have struggled to secure their constitutional rights — particularly in government employment and higher education — as they continue to receive less than the 27 per cent reservation cap recommended nationally.
Historically, Odisha’s governance has been dominated by the Congress for over four decades, followed by BJD’s uninterrupted rule for the past 24 years — from 2000 to 2024. Yet, neither regime has proactively secured meaningful reservations for OBC communities. Critics argue that successive governments have not only ignored OBC interests but also sidelined them for political convenience.
The legal roadblocks and political apathy
Following the recommendations of the BP Mandal Commission, Odisha introduced the Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes Act in 1993 and later the Odisha Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act in 2008. Based on these frameworks, the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) once attempted to implement a 27 per cent OBC reservation for Assistant Section Officer (ASO) positions. However, this move pushed the total reservation quota beyond the 50 per cent ceiling set by the Supreme Court, prompting a legal challenge from petitioner Amar Chhatoi.
In 2013, the Odisha Administrative Tribunal struck down the 27 per cent OBC reservation for exceeding the permissible limit. Subsequent appeals by the Odisha government to the High Court in 2014 and later to the Supreme Court in 2017 have so far failed to yield a resolution. Legal experts opine that if the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government was genuinely committed to OBC rights, it could have expedited the case by seeking an urgent hearing or appointing top legal advocates.
A legal loophole Odisha could use
Although the Supreme Court, in its landmark Indra Sawhney vs Union of India judgment, capped total reservations at 50 per cent, it left room for exceptions in states with unique socio-economic conditions such as remote, tribal, and underdeveloped areas. Odisha, with 40 per cent of its population belonging to Scheduled Castes (17.13 per cent) and Scheduled Tribes (22.85 per cent), and given its socio-economic indicators, could theoretically present a case for an exemption — something successive governments have hesitated to pursue assertively.
Who gains politically from the caste census?
With a caste-based census imminent, a race to claim political credit has already begun. Nationally, the Congress and regional parties like Janata Dal (U) and Samajwadi Party hope to use the data to demand proportionate reservations and benefits for backward classes. In Odisha, the BJD faces a tricky situation. While it has publicly supported the census demand, its patchy record on OBC reservations could invite scrutiny.
The BJD risks losing political ground if opposition parties effectively communicate the narrative that the regional party — during its stint in power —failed to safeguard OBC interests during its long tenure.
An opportunity for social justice, or a political game?
The caste census has the potential to reshape India’s socio-political landscape by providing updated data on the demographic composition of various communities. In Odisha, where the OBC population remains underserved despite constituting a majority, this exercise could either be a turning point for social justice or yet another episode in the theatre of electoral politics.
Whether the BJD can maneuver this issue to its advantage — or whether it will become a rallying point for the state’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition Congress — depends on the political will and legal strategy adopted in the coming months.