Caste census: Tejashwi writes to PM Modi, demands reservation in private sector and judiciary

Tejashwi Yadav demands caste census inclusion for reservation in private sector, contracts, judiciary, and full Mandal Commission implementation.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and the Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and put forward several demands to be included in the caste enumeration including reservation in the private sector.

On 30th April 2025, the Modi government announced the addition of a caste census in the forthcoming population survey.

Mr. Yadav demanded that there should be reservation in contracts, judiciary, proportional reservation based on caste census data and full implementation of pending Mandal Commission recommendations.

Mr. Yadav alleged that for years, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre dismissed the calls for a caste census as divisive and unnecessary.

“When Bihar took the initiative to conduct its own caste survey, central authorities including the top law officer of the government and your party created obstacles at every step. Your party colleagues questioned the very necessity of such data collection. Your belated decision represents an acknowledgement of the groundswell of demands from the citizens who have long been relegated to the margins of our society,”Mr. Yadav said in the letter posted on social media platform ‘X’ on Saturday. 

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader further said that the Bihar caste survey, which revealed that Other Backward Class (OBCs) and Extremely Backward Class (EBCs) constitute approximately 63% of state’s population, shattered many myths perpetuated to maintain the status quo.

“Similar patterns are likely to emerge nationwide. I am sure that the revelation that disadvantaged communities form the overwhelming majority of our population while remaining severely under-represented in positions of power will create a democratic awakening transcending political boundary,”Mr. Yadav said.