Fresh cracks have appeared within the Congress over its flagship caste census demand at a national level with a senior leader claiming the party never endorsed identity politics.

A demand for caste census may be misinterpreted as disrespecting the party’s former leaders and former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, Anand Sharma said in a letter to party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, which was shared by news agency IANS.