Bengaluru, Oct. 1 -- Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday reiterated their accusations implying alleged political motives of the chief minister Siddaramaiah behind the ongoing socio-economic survey, even as the chief minister mounted the now-familiar defence of the exercise, referring to it as a measure to advance equality.

BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra addressing reporters in Kalaburagi on Tuesday, insisted that his party was not opposed to the caste census itself but to the intent behind it. "The state government is playing a game of chess in the name of the caste census. They are trying to divide Hindu society. Does the state government even have the authority for this?" he asked.

While clarifying the BJP's position...