Synopsis "It was ironic that a party defined by the ideology of Hindutva, that rose to power seeking to unite the Hindu majority against the divisive politics of caste identity pursued by its opponents, should draw the media’s attention to the fact that the new council would have 12 ministers belonging to Scheduled Castes, 8 to Scheduled Tribes and 27 OBCs." PTI The focus right now remains on state assembly elections, especially after recent setbacks and where caste and other regional factors play a bigger role. It has been a long time since the Union council of ministers has been reconstituted at a political moment defined by multiple challenges facing the nation, the ruling party and the prime minister.