Narendra Modi's Cabinet Reflects Caste Balance In Bihar With Eye On Upcoming Elections

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has included the most ministers from Bihar in his new government, after Uttar Pradesh. Bihar's state assembly elections are next year. The NDA is trying to balance caste equations in the state.

PM Modi has included two Dalit leaders and two leaders from Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) from Bihar. The Bhumihar caste also has two leaders in the new cabinet. One Yadav (OBC) and one Brahmin have been included as well.

This shows that the NDA is trying to balance social equations in Bihar for the upcoming elections. Social justice politics has been important in Bihar for over three decades. The focus on EBCs has become more prominent than OBCs.

Photo Credit: PTI

BJP and JDU have focused on EBCs. BJP included Raj Bhushan Chaudhary Nishad, MP from Muzaffarpur, and JDU included Ram Nath Thakur, a Rajya Sabha MP and son of former chief minister Karpoori Thakur.

The induction of Nishad is part of a long-term strategy. Mukesh Sahni’s Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) aims for the same Mallah community vote bank that Nishad represents. Raj Bhushan was the VIP candidate last election but won for the BJP this time.

Ajay Nishad, who won the seat for BJP before, moved to Congress after BJP denied him a ticket. In the RJD alliance, Congress is an ally of VIP. RJD and Congress hoped to get votes from the Kevat and Mallah communities, but BJP's win has encouraged NDA.

The Bhumihar community has a significant influence on Bihar politics. Nitish Kumar’s confidant from JDU, Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan Singh), is in the cabinet. Giriraj Singh, a prominent Bhumihar face from BJP, is also included.

The BJP has given a chance to one OBC face, Nityanand Rai, an MP from Ujiyarpur who is a Yadav. He was the minister of state for home affairs in the previous government. Former Home Minister Amit Shah campaigned for him in his constituency.

BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Satish Chandra Dubey, an influential Brahmin face of north Bihar, is also included. However, no Rajput leader is among the ministers from Bihar. Rajputs have shown displeasure with the BJP in many parts of the country.

Former union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who defeated Lalu Yadav’s daughter from Saran seat, is also from the Rajput community but not included as a minister.