Is India’s Modi ‘clearly scared’ of opposition’s caste-census challenge ahead of state polls?

India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is facing a significant challenge from the opposition party as the country prepares for state elections. Modi recently visited the desert state of Rajasthan, where he addressed a large election rally. He criticized the state's current leader, Ashok Gehlot, accusing him of corruption and mismanagement. Modi promised that if his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), wins the upcoming elections, they will accelerate development and eradicate corruption. However, the opposition party has proposed a strategy that could potentially disrupt the BJP's plans. They have suggested conducting a caste census, which would involve collecting data on the population distribution of each caste and their economic status. This could potentially alter the current reservation system for jobs and educational places, which could divide the BJP's voter base. The opposition party argues that this is necessary as marginalized communities now make up more than half of India's population and should therefore have more reserved opportunities. This proposal has gained support from other regional parties. However, the BJP is concerned that this could cause divisions among their supporters, who they want to vote based on Hindu unity rather than caste. The opposition party believes that focusing on pro-poor policies could help them win the elections. However, the BJP is also attempting to appeal to the poor by promising to improve their living conditions. The opposition party's proposal for a caste census could potentially disrupt the BJP's plans. However, it remains uncertain whether this will be sufficient to secure them a victory in the elections. The BJP is a popular party with substantial resources, and the opposition party will need to put in significant effort if they hope to win.