Bhubaneswar, March 5: Amid controversy over the caste census and delimitation issue, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Member of Parliament Sasmit Patra reiterated the party's long-standing demand for a caste census, urging that both the general census and caste-based enumeration be conducted without delay.
"The BJD, under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik, has consistently advocated for a caste census alongside the regular population census," Patra stated. He pointed out that the census, which was originally scheduled for 2021, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While there was an expectation that the process would begin in early 2023, the census has yet to commence.
Patra further stressed the importance of the census for the delimitation process, saying, "Delimitation is supposed to occur based on the census data. For this to happen, the terms of reference need to be defined—whether it will rely on population numbers or other demographic factors. Without this clarity, it will be difficult to proceed."
The BJD MP acknowledged concerns from parties in southern India regarding potential changes in representation due to population growth. "There are fears that southern states, which have experienced more controlled population growth, might lose seats in Parliament. However, the census must be conducted, and the caste census should be included as part of it," he added.
Meanwhile, in Tamil Nadu, a significant all-party meeting chaired by Chief Minister MK Stalin convened earlier today. The meeting, attended by representatives from 58 out of 64 parties, passed a resolution requesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to assure Parliament that any future delimitation would be based on the 1971 population census, focusing on the next 30 years, starting from 2026.
The resolution strongly opposed the idea of delimitation based solely on population, citing concerns over its potential negative impact on India's federal structure and the representation of states in the southern part of the country. "We request the Union Government to amend the constitution if needed. If there is an increase in the number of MPs in Parliament, the allocation should reflect the 1971 census proportions for all southern states in both Houses," the resolution stated.
The meeting also clarified that Tamil Nadu is not opposed to the delimitation process. However, it emphasized that delimitation should not penalize the state for its successful implementation of social welfare schemes over the past 50 years. The resolution concluded by reiterating the need for fair and equitable treatment for Tamil Nadu and other southern states.
