“This decision is important in terms of the bahujan (people in majority) population. Even if the Cabinet (CCPA) has taken the decision (on caste enumeration), the people, the country, Dalits, oppressed and underprivileged society are giving Rahul Gandhi credit for it,” he asserted.The Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, whose party is an ally of the Congress, pointed out that Gandhi has been consistently raising the issue of caste-based census for the last ten years.”The government had to budge,” he insisted, noting that credit for the move must be given to the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.Raut said the decision was taken ahead of the assembly polls in Bihar (due in late 2025) and West Bengal (2026).The Rajya Sabha MP contended the BJP had been opposing a caste-based census.Raut welcomed NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar’s remarks favouring a rapprochement between estranged cousins – Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena head Raj Thackeray.Pawar, an ally of the Shiv Sena (UBT), on Wednesday said it will be good if the two families (Thackeray cousins) come together.Raut maintained Uddhav Thackeray was “very positive” about political reunion with his estranged cousin Raj, who walked of the united Shiv Sena in 2005 and formed his own outfit the next year.
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