Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the BJP was not opposed to the idea of a caste census, but decisions regarding it have to be made thoughtfully. This comes in response to the Congress accusing the BJP of opposing a caste census in order to divide and rule. Shah mentioned that the BJP would consult with everyone involved before making a decision on a caste census. He also criticized the Congress for contesting elections based on this issue and stated that the BJP does not engage in vote politics on this matter.