In a self-made video, Ashok Choudhary said, "This is a historic decision. It strengthens the foundation of Nitish Kumar's vision. He has been fighting this battle for so long, even meeting the Prime Minister personally to press for this demand."
Drawing from Karnataka's example, Siddaramaiah noted that his government had conducted a caste census and collected extensive data to evaluate different groups' socio-economic and educational conditions.
Odisha's Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president welcomed the Centre's decision to conduct a caste-based census on Wednesday, terming it a significant step towards ensuring social justice.
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday termed the Union Cabinet's decision to include caste enumeration in the national census a "100 per cent victory" of the unity of 90 per cent of PDA--Picchda (Backward classes), Dalits (Schedule Castes), and Alpasankhyaks (Minorities).
Earlier in the day, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw briefed the media about the decision, saying the move would strengthen the country's social and economic structure.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday that the party supports the government's decision to conduct caste enumeration during the forthcoming population census, but it should specify a timeline.
Owaisi also emphasised the urgent need to collect comprehensive data on the backwardness of Muslim communities, urging the BJP-led Centre to ensure transparency and policy alignment with the findings.
"We have no issue with any such census or survey that gives a better understanding of society. But as we have seen in Bihar, merely conducting caste surveys will not improve the situation unless the government works on its outcomes," Kishor said.
The Congress National President further emphasized that in the absence of caste census, the implementation of meaningful social justice and empowerment programmes is incomplete.
"What we socialists proposed 30 years ago--be it reservation, caste census, equality, fraternity, secularism--others take decades to follow. There is still a long way to go. But make no mistake--we will keep making these Sanghis dance to our agenda," Lalu Yadav said.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday lauded the Union Cabinet for approving the proposal for the development, maintenance and management of a four-lane greenfield access controlled high-speed corridor from Shillong to Silchar.