JD(U) takes credit for caste census, says nation adopts Nitish's vision
The JD(U) posters, now visible across the state capital, read, "Nitish ne dikhaya, ab desh ne apnaya" (What was envisioned by Nitish has now been adopted by the country). While expressing gratitude to the PM for making a "historic decision" to carry out the caste count, the poster highlights that the enumeration of every caste will help formulate a national policy.
Political analyst Ajay Kumar Jha said with caste remaining a central issue in Indian politics, every party is eager to claim ownership. "Well, Nitish may have been advocating for the caste census, but no party objected when the former Grand Alliance govt in Bihar decided to conduct a caste survey. Even the BJP, then in opposition, supported it," Jha told TOI on Friday.
"In fact, caste continues to be a major factor in Bihar's political landscape and with assembly elections approaching, no party wants to be left behind," he added, denying any internal rivalry within the NDA over credit for the initiative.
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Interestingly, several of the Modi govt's schemes over the past 11 years appear to have been inspired by initiatives introduced in Bihar under Nitish. Notably, the Rashtriya Gramin Aajivika Mission (National Rural Livelihood Mission) is said to have been modelled after Bihar's widely acclaimed JEEViKA programme, aimed at empowering the rural poor. During his Pragati Yatra, Nitish repeatedly told crowds that the Centre's Aajivika initiative drew its framework from JEEViKA.
Analysts further pointed out that other central schemes, such as the Jal Jeevan Mission and the SAUBHAGYA (Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana), were inspired by Bihar's Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal and Har Ghar Bijli Yojana. Likewise, the Centre's Amrit Sarovar Yojana echoes the state government's Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali programme.
"Well, several projects initiated by the Bihar govt, such as JEEViKA and the Nal-Jal Yojana, have been adopted not only by the Centre but also by other states," said political analyst Vidyarthi Vikas on Friday. "Nitish is right in saying that what Bihar does is often later embraced by the Centre," he said.
However, Vikas added, "As far as the caste census is concerned, RJD chief Lalu Prasad also campaigned extensively for it, alongside Nitish. More recently, it became a core campaign issue for RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, which led to Bihar's caste survey. So, credit must be shared between Nitish Kumar and Lalu/Tejashwi for the caste census."
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