The only political forces holding out against the BJP are the caste-based parties, as also the odd regional outfits like the DMK and TMC. These claim to be ‘secular’ only for the sake of keeping a hold on India’s second largest majority, the Muslims, otherwise there is nothing in the states they govern that upholds that principle. The real interests of the Indian citizen are largely ignored. This is the kind of embedded fascism that is exploding in the United States these days.
The next ‘Panipat’ in this fight for dominance will be seen in the coming assembly elections in Bihar, the bastion of caste politics. While the NDA Governments at the Centre and in the state are focused on making Bihar a model of development through a spate of projects and welfare schemes, the opposition is striving to play identity politics by presenting the BJP as led by ‘outsiders’ and cronies of capitalists. This is a fallback on the socialist ideas of the past that have deep roots in the state and became manifest in Mandal style politics. This has changed somewhat as a large number of Biharis constitute the nation’s migratory workforce. While they benefit by sending money home, they live a tough life that they would certainly like to change. Not only do they suffer discrimination in many ways – they also face the consequences of local catastrophes or political disturbances. As such, there is a growing realisation that a more developed Bihar would be preferable to the severely stratified society it is at present. The BJP is hoping to benefit from this sentiment.
The opposition is also seeking to lure the ‘subaltern’ classes by dangling the prospect of ‘proportional’ reservations in government and private sector jobs. Unfortunately, these very classes are in more severe competition with each other than with those higher up on the social scale. This phenomenon has become more than evident in the response to the ‘caste-census’ in Karnataka, where the government has had to decide on redoing it. A clear rejection by the voters of such politics would signify a willingness to pull Bihar up by the bootstraps and be a welcome sign for investors.
It is still going to be a difficult contest just because, despite the obvious reality, it is difficult for people to get rid of old prejudices and the deep programming of a bygone era. Hopefully, Bihar will be the next stepping-stone in India’s rise.
