Patna: BJP leadership in Bihar is in a tight spot following Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led all-party delegation’s meeting with the Prime Minister seeking a caste-based census in the state. 

BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi has tweeted that BJP is not against caste-based census after Chief Minister’s decision to meet the Prime Minister. 

His tweets do not go well in the party line; a week back, BJP informed the parliament that it had decided not to carry out a caste-based count as a matter of policy.

"The BJP was never against caste-based census; we have also been part of resolutions passed in the legislative assembly and council in its support. The delegation that will meet PM Modi also includes a BJP representative," Sushil Modi wrote in a series of posts on Sunday evening. 

Mr. Nitish Kumar led a delegation in which BJP's Janak Ram, a Bihar minister, opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav, Congress leader Ajeet Sharma, Left leaders, and former Chief Minister and President of Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) Jitan Ram Manjh will be part of the delegation. 

"I am part of the delegation led by Nitish Kumar Ji that will meet the Prime Minister. On the issue of the caste-based census, whatever decision the Prime Minister takes should be acceptable to us," Janak Ram told news agency ANI just before the meeting this morning. 

All parties have favoured for caste-based census in the state, but for BJP is concerned it is a tricky political agenda. While the central government has long held that a caste-based assessment may deepen divides, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar says it will only help formulate better policies and benefits for neglected sections of the society.

"When the then government conducted a social, economic, and caste-based assessment, there were shortcomings in data. The number of communities ran into lakhs. That report was not made public because of the errors. It was not part of the Census," Mr Modi said in another tweet. 

"Caste-based census would be not just for Bihar, people in the whole country will benefit from this," Nitish Kumar said, but his tweets bring embarrassment to party central leadership.