The Central government took everyone by surprise by announcing a caste census, a move that has long been the poll plank of the Congress party and its leader, Rahul Gandhi. What prompted this sudden decision? Will it truly pave the way for social justice? And how will it impact the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal?

In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we delve into these critical questions with three journalists.

Joining us are Pallavi Ghosh, Senior Editor at CNN-News18, known for her in-depth reporting and years of ground-level political coverage; Gautam Lahiri, senior journalist and President of the Press Club of India; and Shekhar Iyer, senior journalist, former Senior Associate Editor at Hindustan Times, and a familiar face on prime-time television debates.

Watch this conversation on the politics, implications, and future of the caste census.

Note: This episode was recorded on May 2, 2025, five days before India carried out strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and PoK under Operation Sindoor.

00:00 – Introduction

01:03 – Caste Census

06:58 – Timeline of National Census

12:09 – Caste Census in West Bengal

15:53 – Impact of Waqf Amendment Act in Bengal

22:14 – Factions in TMC

24:37 – Mamata vs INDIA Bloc

27:09 – Minority Votes in Bengal

33:41 – Rahul's Bihar Fight

39:44 – NDA’s Game in Bihar

43:21 – Caste Survey in Karnataka

48:55 – DKS vs Siddaramaiah

51:23 – What’s BJP’s Plan for Tamil Nadu?