Almost a week has passed since the Supreme Court pronounced its judgment on sub-classification of the Scheduled Castes for the purpose of reservation in jobs and educational institutions, but the two principal national parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, have so far failed to make their stand clear on the court's order.
The two national parties are treading cautiously on the issue, their assessment being that the court order will have wide political ramifications and how it will play out on the ground politically and electorally has to be understood properly.
During the Supreme Court hearings on the issue, the Centre had spoken in support of sub-categorisation of SCs and STs. The party has also made an effort to enhance its support among non-dominant SCs and Other Backward Castes. Its electoral successes in the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh has been in a large measure due to the support it has received from non-Jatav Dalits and non-Yadav OBCs. However, there appears to be a divide within the BJP on the issue and some of its allies too have reacted adversely to the court order.
According to BJP leaders, it has to be assessed how the Dalit community looks at the court order. There are already views expressed by Dalit leaders cutting across parties that the implementation of the court order could splinter the Scheduled Castes and they could be divided politically. Also, while many in the BJP may be in favour of sub-categorisation, the party has reservations about introducing the concept of creamy layer for the SCs, something that the apex court order prescribed.
The ruling BJP also has to take into account the opposition to sub-categorisation of Dalits from some of its allies. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), a key Bihar ally, has said the party will appeal against the Supreme Court order.
The Congress also has so far not made clear its official stand on the Supreme Court order. While its governments in the southern states of Telangana and Karnataka have hailed the court order and said they would implement it, there is concern in the party about how it could play out in the northern states. Already some Dalit leaders in the party belonging to the northern states have suggested that the party should file an appeal against it in the top court.
The top leadership of the Congress, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress Parliamentary Party chief Sonia Gandhi, has held discussions on the court order. Further discussions will be held with chief ministers of Congress-ruled states and presidents of the party's state units before the party finalises its stand on the judgment.