Jaipur, May 2 -- A day after the Union cabinet approved the move to include caste enumeration in the national Census, both the BJP and Congress have claimed credit, even as experts view it as a potential turning point in India's socio-political landscape. While Congress veteran Ashok Gehlot credited the move to Rahul Gandhi's sustained pressure and framed it as a step toward long-overdue social justice, BJP leader and Rajasthan state president Madan Rathore welcomed the decision and accused the Congress of politicising the issue for electoral gain. Amid the political sparring, experts including political analyst Narayan Bareth and former additional advocate general Raghav said that the caste census could deepen caste consciousness initially, but ultimately pave the way for a class-based political realignment that challenges entrenched hierarchies and redefines representation in governance. Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot said the government was compelled to agree to a caste census under pressure from Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. "They (BJP and RSS) used to allege that Congress is trying to divide the society when we raised the demand for a caste census. But now they caved in under pressure," he told reporters. "It is an important decision. If after 75 years, SC, ST, OBCs feel they have not got justice then how long will they remain silent. It should be done in a scientific manner," he said. He further said that the government should clarify when the census will start, how it will take place and how long it will take. He also supported Gandhi's call for removal on the 50% cap on reservations. "Telangana has done a caste survey which can be a model for the Centre to study and replicate," he said. Welcoming the Centre's decision, state BJP president Madan Rathore said this showed that the central government was committed to the values and interests of the society and the country. He added that the Congress had historically opposed the caste census. "If the caste enumeration is done along with the general census, it will not put any burden. Only one column has to be added in the census form to note down the caste. The Congress on the other hand was pressing exclusively for a caste census that would put a lot of financial burden on the government. Congress and its allies were pressing for the caste census only to use it as a political tool," he said. He further said late Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had in 2010 assured the Lok Sabha that the matter of caste census would be taken up for consideration in the cabinet. a ministerial committee was also formed. But in the end the Congress only did a survey that is known as Socio-Economic and Caste Census, he said. Political analyst Narayan Bareth stated that the caste census will deepen caste consciousness in society, which will gradually evolve into a broader class-based structure. "Politically, it will influence voting patterns, leading to a clearer division between forward and backward communities," he said. He emphasised that over time, the thinking of people will shift from caste lines to class lines, which will strengthen the framework of social justice. "A new and larger political pattern will emerge, driven by class consciousness," he added. He further said that this shift could trigger a collective struggle among marginalised groups. "India has over 3,000 castes and 25,000 sub-castes. This diversity will create a new churn in society, leading to the formation of new caste alliances and a dynamic political realignment." Former additional advocate general Satyendra Raghav stated that the caste census will bring sidelined communities into the mainstream and provide them with a new sense of direction. "There are several communities that currently do not have representation even at the level of government officers. The dominance of a few castes will be re-evaluated, and opportunities will become more inclusive," he said. Raghav emphasised that the Constitution mandates benefits should reach the truly deserving. "If one community has already availed its fair share through reservations, then the opportunity should be extended to others in need," he added....