Rajasthan CM announces caste survey ahead of state elections

Jaipur: As the assembly elections draw near, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has declared that the state will conduct a caste survey, akin to the one conducted in Bihar.

This decision was reached during a core committee meeting of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (RPCC) held in Jaipur, attended by several key leaders, including Congress in-charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Randhawa and RPCC president Govind Singh Dotasra.

Ashok Gehlot, addressing reporters after the meeting, explained that the Rajasthan government aims to carry out a caste survey, aligning with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's vision of proportionate participation based on caste demographics. He emphasised that this initiative would help in the targeted development of various communities.

Gehlot elaborated, "There are various castes within the country. People of various religions live here. Different castes do different jobs. If we know how much population of which caste there is, we can know what plans we have to make for them. It will be easier for us to prepare schemes caste-wise."

In addition to the caste-based survey, discussions during the meeting also touched upon the yatra (journey) regarding the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) issue. The ERCP project addresses irrigation and drinking water needs across 13 districts in eastern Rajasthan.

The Congress had previously planned a five-day yatra in eastern Rajasthan to advocate for the national project status for ERCP. However, it was postponed, and Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra announced that a crucial meeting would take place on Monday to decide the new dates for the yatra.

The slogan for the Congress' election campaign in Rajasthan is set to be "Kaam Kiya Dil Se, Congress Fir Se" ("Work Done Wholeheartedly, Congress Again").

The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election for 2023 is expected to take place in or before December of this year.