Bengaluru, May 1 -- Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday welcomed the Central government's decision to conduct a caste census alongside the general census, while particularly congratulating Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his persistent advocacy.

"I welcome the Centre's decision, but I congratulate Rahul Gandhi more because, for the last five years, he has been urging the Central government to conduct a caste census and campaigned extensively for it," he said.

He noted that the Congress had included the caste census in its manifesto and suggested that the timing of the Centre's decision might be linked to the upcoming Bihar elections. Siddaramaiah emphasised the need for a comprehensive socio-economic and educational surve...