Candidates list of both the rival alliances focus on how to beat the other in caste arithmetic
New Delhi : Contrary to the claims of both Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and the BJP president Amit Shah, neither of the alliances have taken the risk of focusing on ‘development’ in the all-important Bihar assembly elections. The list of candidates released by the NDA and the Mahagatbandhan (JDU-RJD) recently makes it amply clear that caste remains the sole concern of the major players whether on one side of the political divide or the other.
A look at the lists of the two major alliances shows that Lalu Prasad has made the best of his massive Muslim-Yadav (MY) social strength by fielding a staggering 97 per cent candidates from the robust combination. Of these, 64 candidates are Yadavs while the other 33 Muslims. RJD sources said this was the best poll strategy under the circumstances since it was much safer to consolidate their traditional vote bank rather than risking the unconfirmed support of newer segments.
Lalu”s ally Nitish Kumar, while banking on the wider social alliance of Lalu, has tried to revive the historic Luv Kush combination of Kurmis and Koeries. While Nitish is confident of his own caste i.e. the Kurmis” support, he has fielded 20 Koeries (also known as Kushwaha) in the JDU list. Interestingly, both Kurmis and Kushwahas were staunch supporters of Nitish Kumar but with the desertion of prominent Kushwaha leaders like Upendra Kushwaha from the party, the vote base shifted to NDA in the Lok Sabha. By fielding more Kushwahas than his own Kurmis (16), Nitish has tried to give a message to Kushwahas that their best interests still lie with the JDU. Nitish hasn”t stopped at the Koeries. He has also attempted to assure the Extremely Backward Castes (EBC) that he remains their best bet by nominating 16 candidates in that social segment. It may be noted that reviving a separate quota for EBCs in local bodies was one of Nitish”s strongest moves as chief minister.
While the JDU-RJD list shows a no-risk strategy of trying to strengthen on the traditional vote base, the BJP has tried to counter the move by building on a rainbow coalition of its traditional supporters as well as new ”prospective” castes. In a bid to expand its vote base, BJP has fielded 16 Yadavs out of its total 160 hoping to chip away at Lalu”s MY base. The party is eyeing the young, upwardly mobile and aspirational Yadav to wean them away from the caste-centred elderly generation. With allies like HAM, RLSP and LJP bringing in a coalition of Mahadalits, Dalits and EBCs on the one hand and a section of Yadavs breaking away from the RJD and its allies, the BJP hopes it could snatch the caste advantage enjoyed by the RJD-JDU combine. Meanwhile, BJP has also reassured its original vote bank, the upper caste, by giving them 65 seats including 30 Rajputs, 19 Bhumihars, 13 Brahmins and 3 Kayasthas.
Smita Mishra
