NEW DELHI: As you know, whether it’s an assembly election in Bihar, votes are cast based on caste, with development becoming a secondary issue. Therefore, this time too, caste dominates the elections, especially with the announcement of candidates. All parties have tried to indicate how many candidates from each caste have been fielded in the electoral arena, along with the announcement of candidate names.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has kept the caste balance in mind while selecting candidates, awarding tickets to upper castes, backward castes, extremely backward castes, and Dalits. The party has fielded the highest number of candidates, 49, from the upper castes. Tickets have been given to 40 candidates from the backward and most backward classes, and 12 from the Dalit community. These include 21 Rajputs, 16 Bhumihars, 11 Brahmins, 13 Vaishvas, 12 Extremsely Backward Classes, 12 Dalits, 7 Kushwahas, 6 Yadava, 2 Kurmis, and 1 Kayastha. Through this strategy, the party has attempted to strengthen social equations while also aligning with its traditional vote bank.
Nitish Kumar’s JDU, meanwhile, has given the highest number of seats to OBCs among its 101 candidates. JDU has fielded 37 OBC candidates this time. This is followed by EBC (Economically Backward Class) candidates, with 22 EBC candidates included in the list. Furthermore, 22 General, 15 SC, 1 ST, and 4 Muslim candidates have been announced.
Meanwhile, according to leaders of the Lok Janshakti (Ram Vilas) Party (LJP(R), a constituent of the NDA, their party has given tickets to most candidates from the Rajput and Yadav castes, with five each. Paswans and Bhumihars have been given four tickets each, while Brahmins, Tell, Pasi, Sudhi, Rauniyar, Kanu, Rajwar, Dhohi, Kushwaha, Ravidas, and Muslims have been given one ticket each.
Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) (HAM) has fielded his relatives on four out of six seats and Bhumihar candidates on two. In addition, Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) has fielded one Bhumihar, one Rajput, three Kushwahas, and one Vaishya candidate in the Bihar elections.
This means that so far, the NDA has given tickets to over 35% of forward castes, over 32% to OBCs, approximately 15% to EBCs, and the remaining to SCs and ST.
Considering the constituents of the Grand Alliance, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has given more than half the seats to Yadavs. The RJD has fielded 28 Yadavs and six Muslims. The Left and VIP have also given tickets by adjusting the equations.
Meanwhile, the Congress has so far given tickets to 19 upper castes, including eight Bhumihars, and five Muslims. Upper castes, Dalits, and Muslims have been traditional Congress voters in Bihar. Seeking to regain lost ground, the Congress party has placed its trust in leaders from the upper caste, Muslim, and Dalit communities. Along with generously awarding tickets to upper castes, it has also given preference to the backward and extremely backward classes.
