NEW DELHI: It has been more than three decades since former Bihar chief minister and a flag bearer of backward classes, Karpoori Thakur bowed out from the stage of Bihar politics. However, his disciples, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, still swear by Karpoori’s name on the issue of social justice.When RJD and JD(U)-led Mahagathbandhan came to power in 2022, they conducted a caste survey to identify the exact population of the state’s Other backward castes (OBC) and Extremely Backward Castes (EBC), to push demands for policies such as expanded quotas. After initial opposition, BJP also came around and supported the exercise.
The survey found out that the EBCs constitute the largest portion at 36 per cent, along with the other backward classes at 27 per cent, which amounts to 63 per cent of the total 13.07 crore population of the state; together, they constitute the socially hefty segment of backward classes. Meanwhile, the “upper caste” groups among Hindus account for only 10.6 per cent.After the caste census report, political parties claimed that the exercise would ensure representation proportional to each community’s population. However, this seems unlikely in the upcoming Bihar elections, as parties appear to be prioritising their traditional voter bases and other factors over population-based representation during the screening of the candidates.‘Jiski jitni sankhya bhari utni uski hissedari?’Catering to its traditional vote banks of Yadavs and Muslims, Rashtriya Janata Dal distributed tickets to 28 Yadavs and 6 Muslims. It also included candidates from the upper caste and EBC communities. However, the exact number is unknown as Tejashwi is yet to make an official announcement.Riding on the vote banks of the upper castes, BJP gave 49 tickets (48.5%) to upper caste candidates. Meanwhile, 34 candidates (33.7%) from the OBC community were fielded, including 6 Yadavs, 15 Vaishyas, 7 Kushwahas, and 2 Kurmis. Ten EBC candidates (9.9%) and 12 SC candidates (11.9%) are also in the poll fray with BJP’s symbol.While the seat-sharing deal with RJD and Left parties is still in limbo, Congress also announced a list of 48 candidates for the upcoming elections. Out of the 48 candidates, 17 tickets (35.4%) were given to upper castes, which include 8 to Bhumihars, 6 seats to Brahmins and 5 seats to Rajputs. Meanwhile, 10 seats (20.8%) are given to OBCs, which include 5 Yadavs, 1 Kurmi, 1 Goswami, 1 Kushwaha and 3 Vaishyas. The party has also fielded 5 candidates (10.4%) from Muslim communities, 5 (10.4%)from EBC, 9 (18.8%) from the SC community and one (2.1%) from the only reserved seat for the ST community in the stateAdditionally, the Left parties are contesting a total of 29 seats. Among these, 15 seats are allocated to OBC candidates, 1 to an EBC candidate, 8 to SC candidates, 2 to minority candidates, 2 to Bhumihars, and 1 to a Rajput. In terms of party distribution, the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) is contesting 10 seats, the Communist Party of India (CPI) 6 seats, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) 4 seats.Sabka sath sabka vikas?Meanwhile, BJP and JD(U) are contesting on 101 seats under the banner of NDA. The remaining 41 seats have been distributed among the minor allies.The screening seems lopsided in the NDA camp too, as BJP, which is contesting on 101 seats in the upcoming election, has fielded almost half of the candidates coming from the upper caste community.Riding on the vote banks of the upper castes, 49 tickets (48.5 per cent) were given to upper caste candidates. Meanwhile, 34 candidates (33.7 per cent) from the OBC community are fielded, including 6 Yadavs, 15 Vaishyas, 7 Kushwahas, and 2 Kurmis. 10 EBC (9.9 per cent), candidate and 12 SC (11.9 per cent) candidates are also in the poll fray with BJP’s symbol.Meanwhile, chief minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) has fielded the most candidates from the OBC, EBC and SC communities. Nitish, who has positioned himself as the poster boy of non-Yadav OBCs and EBCs, has fielded 37 candidates from the OBC community (36.6%), while 22 candidates from the EBC community (21.8%). Additionally, 15 candidates from the SC community (14.9%) and 1 candidate from the ST community (1.0%) are fielded in the poll fray. JD(U) has also distributed tickets to 22 (21.8%) candidates from the upper caste community in the upcoming assembly elections.The Election Commission has announced the schedule for the Bihar assembly elections. The 243 assembly seats will go to the polls in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with the counting of votes scheduled to take place on November 14.The total number of electors in the final list stands at 7.42 crore, while there were 7.89 crore electors as of June 24 this year. An Election Commission press release stated that 65 lakh voters were removed from the draft list, and the number of electors in the draft list as of August 1, 2025, stood at 7.24 crore.In the 2020 assembly election, the BJP contested 110 seats and won 74, securing 19.8% of the vote share. The Janata Dal (United) contested 115 seats and won 43, with a 15.7% vote share. The Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) contested seven seats, winning four, and achieved 0.9% of the vote share.
