Lucknow, Nov. 1 -- Days before the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls starts on November 4, Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yaedav has demanded the inclusion of a separate caste column in the SIR form.

This "primary caste census" will help in better implementation of government schemes for the Dalits, backwards and the underprivileged, he said at a press conference at the SP headquarters in Lucknow on Friday.

His statement has drawn condemnation from deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak .

"When SIR is happening in Uttar Pradesh, it is a big exercise where officers of the government will visit all the households and connect with the voters. We demand that one more column for caste should be increased in the ...