Caste Calculus

Loyalty of the extremely backward among the “backwards” or the “maha” Dalit among the Dalits—that's the crux of the upcoming elections in Bihar

- Md Asghar Khan

At a rally somewhere in Bihar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav asks the crowd to name the leaders of the ruling Janata Dal (United) in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. “Sanjay Jha...Lalan Singh,” the crowd shouts. “Has anyone from the ‘backwards’ and the ‘extremely backwards’ got a decent ministry?” Tejashwi asks. “No,” the listeners reply. Listing the top five ministers in chief minister Nitish Kumar's cabinet, the RJD leader says none belong to the “extremely backward” category.

Since October 2, 2023, when the results of the Bihar caste survey showed 63 per cent of the electorate comprised the ‘other backward classes’ (OBCs) and the ‘extremely backward classes’ (EBCs), the castes talked about the most have been the EBCs, who alone account for 36 per cent or 47 million among the state’s 137 million people. According to the 2023 caste survey, the rest of Bihar’s population comprises 19.65 per cent Dalits, 18 per cent Muslims and 15.5 per cent ‘upper’ (dominant, privileged or elite) castes.

Tejashwi’s speeches and the Narendra Modi government's decision to organise a national caste census—a longtime demand of the Opposition—coming just months before the Bihar election signal the newfound and growing significance of the EBCs, who had long been identified and counted among the OBCs. Yet no prominent political leader has emerged among the EBCs to lead the communities that have so far largely been mobilised in support for Lalu Prasad’s Yadav-led RJD or Nitish Kumar’s Kurmi-led JD(U).