In a striking turn in the national debate over social justice and representation, the Madhya Pradesh government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has found itself echoing a slogan that has long been associated with the Congress and other opposition parties — “jitni abaadi, utna haq” (rights in proportion to population). The development comes as the state pushes for expanded reservations and stronger representation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), signalling a shifting political tone ahead of upcoming elections.
The phrase, once championed by Congress leaders as part of their demand for a nationwide caste census and proportional allocation of benefits, has now found resonance within sections of the BJP’s leadership in Madhya Pradesh. The state government has reportedly argued that the OBC population — forming a significant demographic chunk in MP — deserves greater policy attention and equitable access to public sector jobs, education, and welfare schemes.
This alignment of rhetoric marks an intriguing political moment. Traditionally, the BJP has emphasized nationalism, development, and merit-based governance as its core narratives. Yet, the growing political weight of caste arithmetic in states like Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh has pushed the party to fine-tune its approach. By embracing a version of the “jitni abaadi, utna haq” principle, the BJP appears to be recalibrating its message to appeal to the OBC electorate — one of the largest and most decisive voting blocs in northern India.
The Madhya Pradesh government’s stance follows months of public and legal debates over the OBC reservation cap. With local body elections and assembly polls approaching, the ruling dispensation has sought to project itself as a defender of OBC rights. BJP leaders have repeatedly stressed that their administration is committed to giving backward classes their “due share in power and opportunity,” a phrase that mirrors Congress’s long-standing demand but is now framed within the BJP’s broader narrative of “inclusive governance.”
Political observers note that this shift reflects both pragmatism and necessity. The Congress’s renewed focus on caste-based representation — particularly under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership — has reignited discussions around social equity. In states like Madhya Pradesh, where OBCs constitute over 45% of the population, ignoring the issue could mean electoral risk. The BJP’s approach, therefore, is seen as a strategic attempt to pre-empt the opposition’s narrative by appropriating its language while embedding it within a nationalist framework.
Interestingly, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and several BJP MPs from the state have publicly emphasized that ensuring proportional representation for backward communities is not contradictory to the party’s ideology. Instead, they argue, it aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s broader vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” — development for all, without exclusion. By framing the debate in terms of empowerment rather than entitlement, the BJP hopes to distinguish its agenda from Congress’s populist tone.
However, the Congress has been quick to claim ideological victory, arguing that the BJP’s rhetoric only validates its long-held demand for a caste census and proportional rights. Opposition leaders have asserted that the BJP’s newfound sympathy for OBC concerns is politically motivated rather than principled, pointing out that the party resisted similar measures at the national level.
Despite the political tug-of-war, the Madhya Pradesh government’s position underscores a deeper evolution in India’s socio-political discourse. The line dividing meritocracy and representation is increasingly blurred as every major party seeks to balance identity politics with developmental promises. The OBC question, once seen as a regional issue, has now firmly entered the mainstream of national politics.
As the state prepares for electoral battles, both the BJP and the Congress seem to agree — even if for different reasons — that population-based representation cannot be ignored. The Madhya Pradesh government’s echo of “jitni abaadi, utna haq” may thus represent not a borrowing of Congress’s slogan, but a recognition of political reality: in India’s evolving democracy, numbers matter, and acknowledging that truth is becoming essential for every party that hopes to govern.
