ROLE OF CASTEISM IN INDIAN ELECTIONS: A STUDY OF ATTITUDES TOWARDS CASTE AND POLITICAL AFFILIATION IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

The present study examines how caste influences voting patterns and political attitudes of voters in India in general and Himachal Pradesh in particular. The study conducted a structured questionnaire from 400 respondents residing at different assembly constituencies of the state; and revealed that caste continues to play a significant role in the region's political landscape. The findings show that over 70 percentage of respondents consider their caste identity important when making political choices, and 73 percentage believe it's crucial for candidates to represent their caste interests. The study also found that about half of the respondents think political parties must address caste issues to succeed in Himachal Pradesh, while 47 percentage believe resolving caste disparities should be a priority for political leaders and parties as well. About 42 percentage of respondents feel represented by politicians from their own caste, though a significant portion (35 percentage) remained neutral on these aspects. The results of the study suggest that despite modernization, caste remains deeply embedded in the political fabric of Himachal Pradesh, influencing both voter behaviour and political strategy. The research contributes to our understanding of how traditional social structures continue to shape democratic processes in contemporary Indian politics.