Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 6 (ANI): Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav, on Friday, emphasised that the Caste Census will only be done properly under the PDA (Pichde, Dalits, Alpsankhyak) government in 2027.

Speaking with the media, Yadav said, 'Caste Census will happen in 2027, under the PDA (Pichde, Dalits, Alpasankhyak) Government. Only then will the Census be done properly.'

Further, Akhilesh Yadav claimed that there is an incomplete museum in Agra of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which the Samajwadi Party's government will not only complete, but also install a grand statue of Shivaji Maharaj at Lucknow

'In honour of a great personality like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj...there is an incomplete museum in Agra whose architect is world-renowned...We, the Samajwadis, will not only make the museum in his name, but we will also install a grand statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Lucknow Riverfront; his throne will be made of gold. Samajwadis will honour him like that in 2027,' Akhilesh Yadav said.

Uttar Pradesh will witness the next Assembly elections in 2027 between the two most prominent parties, i.e., Bharatiya Janata Party and Samajwadi Party. The Congress is likely to contest the polls in alliance with the SP.

In the current session, the Uttar Pradesh Assembly has 403 elected members, 258 of whom are from the Bhartiya Janata Party, 107 from the Samajwadi Party, and 13 from the Apna Dal.

In addition to that, Rastriya Lok Dal has nine; the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party has six; the Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal has five; Jansatta Dal Loktantrik and Congress have two; and the Bahujan Samaj Party has only one representative.

Earlier today, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi attended the 'Samvidhan Sabha' in Rajgir, Nalanda. Addressing the gathering, Gandhi emphasised the need for a caste census and criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stance on the issue.

He questioned PM Modi's claim of being an OBC while asserting that the BJP denies the existence of caste in India, emphasising the need for a genuine caste census.

'Narendra Modi used to say in every speech, I am OBC. Then, on the caste census, they say that there is no caste in India. If there is no caste in India, then how did Narendra Modi become an OBC? My goal is to conduct a caste census. I had said this to Narendra Modi face to face in Lok Sabha - there will be a caste census, and you know he has a habit of surrendering,' Rahul Gandhi posted on Congress X handle.

Rahul Gandhi emphasised the importance of conducting a caste census, asserting that it would reveal the country's actual social and economic dynamics. (ANI)