In a recent development, election strategist Prashant Kishor has asserted that the caste-based survey released by the Bihar government is Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s last-ditch effort to secure his political survival by exploiting caste divisions within society. Kishor, who was speaking during his ongoing Jan Suraj Pad-Yatra in Sitamarhi district, boldly stated that he would publicly apologize if the Janata Dal (United) manages to secure even five seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha election.
Kishor expressed his perspective on this matter, stating, “Nitish Kumar’s political career is on the brink, and this survey represents his final endeavor to sow discord within society to serve his own interests. I can assert, based on my political insights, that if the JD(U) secures just five seats, I will publicly extend my apology. However, I believe this attempt will bear no fruit.”
Since the release of the caste-based survey on October 2 by the grand alliance government in Bihar, opposition leaders have raised concerns regarding its authenticity. According to the report, the Extremely Backward Class (EBC) constitutes the largest segment in Bihar, making up 36.01% of the population, followed by the Other Backward Class (OBC) with a 27.12% share.
Numerous BJP leaders have alleged that the survey is fabricated, and some have claimed that several castes were undercounted. The president of the Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal (RLJD), Upendra Kushwaha, has declared a protest march on October 14 to demand a legitimate caste survey, emphasizing the confusion created by the current survey.
Kishor also raised the issue of the underrepresentation of Muslims in Bihar’s government despite constituting 18% of the population. He pointed out that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav control a significant portion of the government’s departments and budget, raising questions about whose interests are genuinely being served.
In response to Kishor’s predictions, JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar labeled him as an agent of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and argued that Kishor’s statement is an expression of frustration following the survey’s national impact, which has left the BJP isolated.
Meanwhile, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) president Om Prakash Rajbhar, while in Patna for a rally, dismissed the caste survey report as a bundle of lies, alleging that the survey was never conducted and labeling the report as “fake” and published by the Bihar government.
This development highlights the ongoing political and caste-related discourse in Bihar, as various leaders and parties offer differing perspectives on the survey’s implications and authenticity.
