<i>Village Matters: Why Do the Upper Castes Remain an</i> Electoral Force in Bihar?

In spite of the measures taken by the state (i.e., universal adult suffrage and introduction of statutory panchayat), operation of market forces and existence of social movements (including backward classes and Naxalite movements), the electoral system in Bihar (and also in other parts of India) continues to revolve around certain castes. The over-representation of some castes in the electoral landscape is directly linked to the under-representation of a large number of castes. While caste-based mobilisation remains an axial around which electoral politics revolves, it is also a fact that the numerical strength of different castes is not in sync with their electoral representation. So, it is imperative to consider the role of other social institutions along with caste to have a better understanding of the logic of electoral politics. By taking the example of upper castes of Bihar, who constitute not more than 14% of the state’s population but remain over-represented in the elected democratic institutions, the article tries to reflect upon the importance of villages in sustaining an electoral ecosystem that enables the electoral dominance of the upper castes.