Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, on Friday, said that the Mahayuti government's "steadfast refusal" to conduct a caste survey had a real consequence for a number of Maharashtra's traditionally disadvantaged communities.
He also announced that the Mahayuti adopted a "bluff and rule" strategy of repeatedly delaying action on social justice.
Provided the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is brought to power in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls, Ramesh promised the restoration of the ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, Annabhau Sathe and Jyotiba Phule.
"The non-biological prime minister and the Mahayuti government's steadfast refusal to conduct a caste census has had real consequence for a number of Maharashtra's traditionally disadvantaged communities," he wrote on X.
Several communities in Maharashtra have been demanding a caste survey and enhanced reservation in government jobs and academic institutions for years, Ramesh points out.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of the Mahayuti alliance repeatedly made vague commitments about studying other states' methodologies to address their demands for reservation but no meaningful progress was made, Ramesh said.
Whereas the Congress repeatedly called for a nationwide caste survey and removal of the 50% ceiling on reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes, the 70-year-old wrote.
A caste survey will ensure that every deprived community in India gets the opportunities they deserve, Ramesh adds.
The Congress leader further said, "The Mahayuti has learnt from the non-biological prime minister's playbook, and adopted a 'bluff and rule' strategy -- of repeatedly delaying action on social justice."
The ruling Mahayuti alliance comprises Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, the BJP and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. The opposition MVA includes the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP).
Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly will be held in a single phase on November 20.
The votes will be counted on November 23, a day before the current Maharashtra Assembly completes its term.
