Sarvagya Kumar
Political science
June 2025
In this paper, the author focuses on how the theme of caste plays a pivotal role in determining the course of the 2024 General Elections in Bihar, and why caste politics remains dominant despite the entry of the themes of development and youth politics in politics. Based on historical explanation, census reports, and large characteristics case studies of various important leading constituencies- Patliputra, Madhepura, Gaya, Darbhanga and Arrah, the paper finds how the caste lines shaped the formation of alliances, selection of candidates, campaigns, and voting patterns. Parties such as RJD, JD (U) and BJP had been tactical in mobilizing caste groups by contacting them at the strategic level through outreach, welfare measures, and electronic outreach, and the caste census debate added to this polarization as yet another electoral issue. Despite the prominence of issues in unemployment, education and governance, caste was still the major parameter of alignment in political preferences primarily in the rural regions. This study comes to the conclusion that even though the contemporary is working alongside the traditional identities, caste remains the foundation of electoral politics in Bihar state.
957- 962
© Airo Journals 2021
