Bihar Politics: BJP is working on various strategies in view of the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar. At the same time, there is a strong effort to woo the upper caste voters. The decision to form the Gold Commission, the investigation into the former Railway Minister Lalit Narayan Mishra murder case, etc. is being seen as an exercise to help the Savarna community.
Burning in the upper caste vote bank is the reason for BJP’s concern: Political analysts believe that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is realizing that the party’s base is slipping among the upper castes. Especially there is resentment about caste census, alliance with Nitish Kumar and lack of upper caste-centric policies in the young upper castes.
Parties like Prashant Kishore’s Jansuraj are also trying to dent the upper caste votes. Although the BJP still remains the first choice of upper castes, the danger is clearly visible. Jansuraj fielded his candidates in four assembly by -elections of 2024 – Belaganj, Imamganj, Ramgarh and Tarari, but did not succeed.
In the by-elections, Jansuraj got some votes in the upper caste areas, which are indicative of BJP’s vote bank. Brahmins (3.65%) and Rajput (3.45%) are impressive in about 30-35 seats in Bihar. The participation of these communities in Jansuraj’s rallies and the Brahmin background of Prashant Kishore has created a rift in these BJP voters.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has come down from 39 to 30 seats, and Mithilesh Tiwari’s defeat in the upper caste region like Buxar indicates the sharing of upper caste votes. In such a situation, the concern and activism of political parties about upper caste votes in Bihar has increased.
Prashant Kishore’s ‘BRDK’ Formula: Prashant Kishore has adopted a strategy to help Brahmin, Rajput, Dalit and Kurmi (BRDK) communities. For Brahmins, they have increased activeness in Mithilanchal, where they have a good population. Former MP Uday Singh (Pappu Singh) has been made the national president to woo the Rajput voters, whose Rajput community has penetration.
Prashant Kishore himself is from the Brahmin community, which he is indirectly benefiting. Their clean politics and change of system in Bihar are attracting the upper caste youth, who are angry with the BJP’s Hindutva-centered but upper caste policies.
Effect of caste census and reservation: The caste survey released by Nitish Kumar government in the year 2023 promoted Other Backward Classes (OBCs), backward classes and Dalit-centric policies in Bihar. After this survey, increasing the reservation by 65% and social justice politics created the perception among the upper castes that the BJP is ignoring them.
The BJP formally opposed the survey, but his stand on the issue was seen to be weak due to an alliance with Nitish Kumar. Now the NDA government at the Center has also agreed to conduct caste census. The upper castes of the state feel that one day the NDA government will also accept the demand for 65 percent reservation.
This is the reason that upper caste youth are disillusioned with the Bharatiya Janata Party. His last hope was the BJP, especially in Bihar, but now many upper caste youths have been disappointed to see the BJP openly playing backward cards.
The political purpose is clearly visible behind the demand for the investigation into Lalit Narayan Mishra murder, a political weapon: Lalit Narayan Mishra murder case again. BJP leader and former Union Minister Ashwini Choubey demanded an inquiry into the murder. Ashwini Choubey said, “When the Sikh riots in 1984 can be investigated again, why can’t the murder of the former railway minister be investigated?”
The BJP is going to prove the Congress to prove the enemy of Brahmins once again by raising the demand for an inquiry into this murder. Lalit Narayan Mishra has been a very popular and powerful leader of his time. The murder was investigated, some people were punished after about 30 years.
The family members of Mishra believe that the investigation was deliberately turned out to the real people by turning towards Anand Margis. BJP and allies are using it as a weapon against the Congress, while trying to capitalize on the regional sentiments of Mithilanchal and Bihar.
Mishra family’s activism and court hearing is giving further air to this case. Although this demand may have started from the search for justice, it is being used in Bihar’s politics to strengthen the vote bank and weaken the opposition. It is believed that the matter will gain more emphasis in the 2025 assembly elections.
Congress’s upper caste strategy: Congress’s upper caste-centric strategy also remains a matter of concern for the BJP. In the year 2023, the Congress appointed 25 out of 38 district heads of Bihar from the upper caste communities, including 12 Bhumihar, 8 Brahmins and 6 Rajputs. This strategy was an attempt to re -connect upper caste voters, especially Brahmins.
In Mithilanchal, where there is a good population of Brahmins, the Congress carried forward Brahmin leaders like Madan Mohan Jha. On January 18, Rahul Gandhi’s Patna Yatras such as Constitution Security Conference and Jaglal Chaudhary Jayanti on 5 February increased the party’s activism in Brahmins and other communities.
The Congress has given the command of Kanhaiya Kumar the job of two-plane Roko Yatra, which is linking Brahmin youth with issues like education and employment. Kanhaiya’s Brahmin Bhumihar background and oratory skills are attracting young Brahmins in Mithilanchal and other areas.
Since independence, till 1990, the Congress dominated the politics of Bihar and was a favorite party of Brahmins. Many of the 18 Chief Ministers (eg Sri Krishna Singh, Jagannath Mishra) were from Brahmin or Savarna community in Bihar. Even today, some Brahmin voters in every village especially see the Congress as their historic party.
The growing activism of political parties regarding upper caste votes in Bihar is an indication that this community is going to play an important role in the upcoming elections. Parties like BJP, Congress and Jansuraj are making every effort to attract the upper castes.