Bihar Govt to Make Caste Survey’s Socioeconomic Data Public in November

Patna: Bihar’s ruling grand coalition has decided to make the socioeconomic data of the recent caste survey, locally known as Jati Adharit Ganana, publicin early November.

According to sources close to the coalition, chief minister (CM) Nitish Kumar recently met RJD chief and former CM Lalu Prasad Yadav twice to discuss their strategy to use socio-economic data in such a way to counter the BJP’s Hindutva card in the state and across the country. The media speculated that something is wrong in the coalition but the two leaders were strategising.

“The government will present all the data of the caste survey, including socioeconomic, in the Assembly during the Winter Session, starting from November 6, to discuss it and take a decision on the future course of action,” former minister and JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar told NewsClick.

According to him, it will be a “turning point” in state politics. “The BJP will be exposed for its opposition to the caste survey.”

Last week, Kumar made it clear that all the data of caste survey will be placed before the Assembly.

Now, all eyes are on another meeting between Kumar and Yadav in Patna ahead of Durga Puja.Sources close to Yadav, told NewsClick that he and Kumar had discussed the strategy about how to extend the ambit of reservation in Bihar following the caste survey.

According to political watchers, the BJP and its allies are already “nervous and uncomfortable”. BJP leaders, including Union ministers Giriraj Singh and Ashwini Kumar Choubey to state party president Samrat Choudhary and Opposition leader Vijay Kumar Sinha have been raising the issue of “Hindus in danger” to target the state government and attacking Kumar and Lalu for ignoring Hindus.

“BJP leaders are trying to play the Hindu card, which is not working anymore because castes are more interested in their representation in politics and share in development. The caste survey has given them hope,” DM Diwakar,a political commentator and former director of AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies,Patna,told NewsClick.

The coalition, part of the opposition alliance INDIA, is “likely to get the benefits of the caste survey in the 2024 general election and the BJP will be at loss”, he added.

“Wait for thesocioeconomic data and the employment,land holding and income data.It will increase aspirations of the marginalised and downtrodden,” he said. 

Sensing the political fallout of the report, the BJP and its allies are no more opposing it.The change in strategy reflects a deep fear that Mandal politics will dismantle ‘Kamandal’ politics this time. In fact, the BJP also demanded that the government should make the socio-economic data public.