Paper Contents
Abstract
The caste census in India, reintroduced after nearly a century, has emerged as a pivotalinstrument reshaping the countrys electoral politics. This paper examines the multifacetedimpact of caste-based enumeration on political mobilization, party strategies, voter behavior,and affirmative action policies. Drawing on empirical data from recent state-level castesurveys (e.g., Bihar 2023) and historical electoral trends, the study analyzes how castecensus data influences vote-bank politics, coalition formations, and the reconfiguration ofsocial justice narratives. It explores the tension between caste-based identity politics and theunifying rhetoric of Hindu majoritarianism, particularly in the context of the BharatiyaJanata Partys (BJP) evolving strategies and the oppositions push for proportionalrepresentation. The paper also investigates the legal and policy implications of caste censusdata, including demands for revising reservation quotas and sub-categorization of OtherBackward Classes (OBCs). By employing a mixed-methods approachcombiningquantitative electoral data analysis with qualitative insights from political discoursethestudy highlights the potential of caste census to democratize representation while riskingdeeper social fragmentation. The findings underscore the need for nuanced policyframeworks to balance social equity with electoral stability, offering insights forpolicymakers and scholars of Indian democracy.
Copyright
Copyright © 2025 ABHISHEK SINGH RAO. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
