Geeta Singh
As Bihar gears up for elections later this year, political parties are already locked in a high-stakes battle to woo the state’s influential Dalit voters, who comprise 19.65% of the population. With alliances crystallizing and welfare schemes under scrutiny, the contest is heating up six months ahead of the polls.
The Congress-RJD alliance appears poised for a revival, with Rahul Gandhi deepening ties with Lalu Prasad Yadav’s family. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) is scrambling to reclaim its eroded Dalit base after a stark decline in performance—from winning 71 Dalit-majority seats in 2015 to just 43 in 2020. The JD(U) also struggled in SC-reserved constituencies, securing only 8 out of 38 seats in 2020 compared to 11 in 2015.
Nitish Kumar has launched a multi-pronged Dalit outreach campaign, including the Bhim Samvad initiative to promote state welfare schemes and the Ambedkar Samagra Yojana, aiming to visit 40 lakh Dalit households within 100 days. His government has rolled out incentives like ₹50,000 for Dalit students clearing BPSC prelims and ₹1 lakh for UPSC qualifiers, alongside monthly stipends for “Vikas Mitras” bridging communities and authorities. Plans for a Dalit Mahakumbh rally before polls signal further intensification.
However, opposition leaders like Tejashwi Yadav dismiss these efforts as “paper schemes,” accusing the government of failing to deliver tangible benefits. “Nothing has reached the people,” he asserted, positioning his RJD as a credible alternative.
Smaller players are also jostling for influence: Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraj Party aim to carve niches in the Dalit vote bank. Nitish’s legacy move to elevate 32 backward communities to “Maha Dalit” status during his 2005–2010 tenure adds another layer to the complex caste calculus.
Across Bihar, hoardings and village meetings tout party promises, while the JD(U) seeks to reverse its declining appeal. With PM Modi’s BJP yet to unveil its strategy, the stage is set for a fiercely competitive election where Dalit votes could tip the scales. As Nitish vows to “regain trust” and rivals amplify their critiques, Bihar’s political landscape remains a cauldron of alliances, accusations, and aspirations.
