Patna, May 23 (FN Agency) Senior BJP leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tarkishore Prasad on Monday said that discussion was going on among leaders of BJP for caste census and a final decision on the issue would be taken soon. Prasad told media persons here that discussion was going on among BJP leaders on caste census. A final decision on the issue would be taken soon, he added. Deputy Chief Minister, reacted on the issue during his interaction with media persons, soon after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that leaders of all parties were being contacted for all party meeting on caste census in Bihar. He had also said that May 27 was tentatively fixed for all party meeting but no consensus on the date had been evolved as yet. All parties including RJD, JD(U) and Congress are prepared for caste census but BJP appears reluctant on the issue. Barring former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, no other senior leader of Bihar has openly supported the move for caste census so far.
A resolution was however earlier passed unanimously in both Houses of Bihar Legislature for caste census but response of BJP had been cool on the issue for the last few months. All party delegation led by Chief Minister Kumar had earlier called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August last year to request him for conducting caste census at national level but the Central government refused it saying it was not possible due to administrative reasons. After that Chief Minister Kumar had expressed his willingness to go ahead for caste census in Bihar using its own resources.