PSIR Daily polity and IR news analysis (caste politics)
Topic: Caste, Religion, and Ethnicity in Indian Politics.
From article: decoding Haryana’s political landscape
Key points from the article:
Issue of caste census: the Congress party’s support for a caste census is designed to address issues of social justice and representation, appealing to OBC sensibilities.
BJP’s counter response:
- Recognising the importance of retaining its OBC voter base, the BJP has also intensified efforts to court them.
- The party has implemented policies to increase reservations in government jobs and education for OBC youth.
- Financial support measures, such as scholarships and loans for OBC entrepreneurs, have been introduced to demonstrate commitment to the community’s economic advancement.
How congress’ Jat dominance helps BJP:
- the Congress’ overt Jat dominance substantively and performatively works in favour of the BJP as it helps them in consolidating the Jat versus others binary.
Who is going to get OBC votes in Haryana?
- while the OBCs have traditionally aligned with the BJP, the Congress’ caste census proposal and enhanced reservation promises are influencing some OBC leaders and voters to reconsider their affiliations.
- The degree of (re)alignment of OBC voters will depend on which party is able to persuade them through their political labour, and not just posturing.
Political thinkers’ view with respect to OBC politics
The increasing influence of OBCs is described as ‘Mandalization’ of Indian politics. OBC politics and demands revolve around reservation, hike in MSP in agriculture etc.
Satish Deshpande in his article The OBC Primer of Indian Politics, suggests that Indian politics is to be read and interpreted with reference to the direction of OBC politics in India. OBC politics is ‘heart of Indian politics’. OBCs form around 42% of the population which means more than half billion people. Thus, they are strategically unavoidable. They are going to be present in any alliance. State politics is nothing but OBC politics. The arrival of coalition govt. at union marks the influence of OBCs at national level. OBCs are in ‘thick of the caste’. It means they are going to determine the future of caste politics itself. Whether caste will become prominent or get diluted it will all depend on the choices made by OBCs.
Jat- Dalit coalition:
- Forging a coalition between Jat and Dalit voters in Haryana is a complex endeavour due to longstanding social and economic disparities between these two communities.
- The Congress is attempting to bridge this divide by emphasising on inclusive policies and addressing issues pertinent to both groups. Highlighting the Dalit leader in political posters reflects the party’s strategy on emphasizing not on Jati (caste) but on Maati (soil), invoking a fraternal coalition of different caste groups.
- The party is advocating for social justice measures, such as supporting a caste census and proposing economic benefits that cater to marginalised communities.
- The narrative of samvidhan khatre mein (the constitution is under threat) which has already been electorally useful for the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections held in May, seems to be a running topic even in this election campaign.
- By focusing on common interests like rural development, agricultural support, and social welfare programmes, the Congress aims to present itself as a unifying force capable of addressing the needs of diverse social groups.
The Congress continues its efforts to build a Jat-Dalit coalition, recognising that uniting these significant voter blocs is essential for electoral success.