Many political parties, including JD(U) and RJD, said that post survey, the state government will be in a better position to make policies for marginalised people of the society. However, on the whole, it will be used as a tool against the saffron party.
The saffron party’s poll ploy of “polarising” Hindu electorate which have 80 per cent vote share has earned them dividends in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
In Bihar, RJD, JD(U) , Congress and Left parties are viewing the survey as an effective method to take on the BJP’s 80:20 math.As per the social structure of Bihar, the upper caste voters are considered as core voters of BJP and even opposition parties do not deny it.
In Bihar, OBC, EBC, Muslims are in large numbers compared to upper castes like Brahmins, Bhumihar and Rajput. Roughly, the state has 19 per cent upper caste, 16 per cent Dalits, 17 per cent Muslims, 16 per cent Yadavs and 38 per cent OBC and EBC voters.
The political leaders are claiming that the survey will be beneficial equally to RJD, JD(U), Left parties, and Congress compared to BJP which enjoys the support of upper caste and traders community.
In case, the BJP gives tickets to OBC, EBC, Yadav candidates, there would be a factor of trust deficit in the mind of voters. They would trust more on candidates of RJD, JD(U), Left and Congress parties than the BJP.
Earlier, the caste-based census occurred in 1931. At that time, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha were united. After the country gained Independence, Brahmins had the dominance in Bihar and it was reflected through four Chief Ministers namely Kedar Pandey, Bindeshwari Debey, Dr Jagannath Mishra and Bhagwat Jha Azad before 1990. Sri Krishna Singh was the Bhumihar leader of the state who became the first chief minister of Bihar.
After them, RJD chief Lalu Prasad emerged as a leader in Bihar. At that time, there was huge social inequality in the state. Lalu Prasad, whose politics was based on backward class people, gave them a voice to fight for their rights in the state. Hence, Lalu Prasad is considered as the leader of social justice in the state.
Nitish Kumar also comes from backward caste and knows that the core voters of BJP are from upper caste.
Bihar has 243 seats in the assembly.
Yadavs are considered as core voters of RJD which has maximum 35 MLAs, Congress 1, CPM 1, CPI (ML) 2, BJP 7, JD-U 5 and VIP 1. Though, RJD lost seven Yadav MLAs as compared to 2015 assembly election in which 42 Yadav MLAs were elected.
For the poll arithemetic, the BJP and RSS have played the reservation card.
Recenly in Nagpur, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat supported reservation in the country.
“We keep our own fellow human beings behind the social system. We did not care for them, and this continued for almost 2000 years until we provide them equality, some social remedies have to be done. Reservation is one of them. Reservation should be continued till there is such discrimination. The Sangh gives complete support to the reservation provided in the Constitution,” Bhagwat said on Thursday.
Countering the statement of Mohan Bhagwat, RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari said: “Our leader Lalu Prasad has throughout his life advocated for reservation for the marginalised. Mohan Bhagwat was the one who made a public statement in 2015 that reconsideration was required in reservation. He is contradicting his own statement. He is making pro-reservation comments as he has realised BJP’s defeat in the 2024 polls. No one would buy his words. His statement is politically motivated to counter the caste based survey of Bihar.”
“People of the country want to know why he is advocating for reservation at the time of election. If Mohan Bhagwat and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have guts, announce for the caste based survey of the entire country,’ Tiwari said.
“When caste-based surveys started in the state, people of BJP created hurdles, including moving to courts. Still, the respective courts of law have given decisions in our favour. It is almost completed and will soon come in public domain,” Tiwari said.
The caste-based survey was started in Bihar in January this year and the first phase was completed in April this year. The second phase started after that but due to Patna High Court decision for temporary ban, it was stopped. Now, Patna High Court has lifted the ban and survey will resume soon. The state government will soon put all the data of the survey in the public domain.
–Ajit Weekly News
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