Congress leader Udit Raj sparked controversy on July 26 by claiming that Rahul Gandhi could become the “second B.R. Ambedkar” for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) - provided they heed his leadership. Writing on X, Raj urged OBC communities to “think that history does not give opportunities for progress again and again,” and to follow Rahul’s push for a national caste census and social justice. 

The remark quickly drew severe pushback from the BJP, with spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accusing Congress of insulting Ambedkar's legacy. The party also questioned why Nehru and Indira Gandhi were not held accountable sooner and suggested that this statement undermined Congress’s historical claims to Dalit empowerment. 

The dispute emerges amid heightened political debate over caste-based reservations. Rahul Gandhi has recently acknowledged that skipping caste census under the UPA was a "mistake" and has vowed to rectify it. Congress has advocated lifting the 50% quota cap and using institutional data to inform further social reforms. 

The row underscores the intensifying struggle over OBC representation in Indian politics, with both parties vying to shape the narrative on identity, caste reform, and social justice.