Nitish eyeing Assembly polls, JD(U) rejig balances caste equations, focuses on ‘Luv-Kush’ base, EBCs

 August 26, 2024 13:29 IST

By M.k.karikalsozhan  Blog Reporter

As Bihar gears up for its upcoming Assembly elections, the ruling Janata Dal (United) has taken significant steps to prepare. In a strategic move to solidify its electoral base, the party has restructured its state committee. This reorganisation aims to balance the representation of various communities, with a particular focus on the OBC “Luv-Kush” (Kurmi-Koeri) communities and the Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs).

Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) national president, Nitish Kumar, has approved this restructuring. The state JD(U) chief, Umesh Kushwaha, unveiled the new 115-member state committee, which includes the party's vice presidents, general secretaries, secretaries, and spokespersons. Notably, 36 of these leaders belong to the Luv-Kush communities, which consist of 26 Kurmi representatives and 10 Koeris. These two OBC communities, making up over 7% of Bihar's population, are crucial to Nitish Kumar’s core support base. Alongside them, sections of the EBCs and Scheduled Castes (SCs) also form a significant part of his voter base.

The restructured committee further strengthens its ties with the EBCs by including 19 members from these groups. The party has also ensured representation from the SC communities, with 10 members in the new state committee. This focus on the Luv-Kush constituency is a clear strategic move, especially in light of the increasing efforts by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to attract the same voter base by promoting its state party chief and Deputy CM, Samrat Choudhary, as a prominent leader in Bihar.

A senior JD(U) leader emphasised the importance of consolidating the party’s core Luv-Kush constituency, especially given the BJP’s attempts to court the same demographic. The leader stated that under the current political scenario, JD(U) must play to its strengths, and the substantial representation of Nitish Kumar’s caste (Kurmi) in the state committee sends a clear message to the electorate that JD(U) remains their political voice.

This strategic manoeuvre comes at a time when the Rashtriya Lok Morcha’s chief, Upendra Kushwaha, is poised to be elected to the Rajya Sabha from Bihar, having been nominated by the BJP. His recent defeat in the Karakat constituency during the Lok Sabha elections, where two of the Opposition Mahagathbandhan alliance’s seven Kushwaha candidates emerged victorious, signalled a shift in some Kushwaha voters away from the NDA.

In response, the new JD(U) state committee has also included 10 Yadav representatives and a similar number of OBC Vaishya leaders. This move highlights the party’s efforts to broaden its appeal beyond its core base. Yadavs traditionally form a key part of the principal Opposition RJD’s support base, while Vaishyas are generally aligned with the BJP. The JD(U) is thus positioning itself to attract support from a wider range of communities ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections. A JD(U) leader recalled the party’s success in the 2010 Assembly elections, where the NDA secured 206 out of 243 seats in Bihar, with JD(U) alone winning 115 seats. The current strategy seems to be a nod to that successful formula.

In addition to the Luv-Kush and EBC representatives, the new JD(U) state committee also includes 21 upper caste members, with nine Rajputs and seven Bhumihars among them. Eight Muslim leaders have been appointed to the panel as well, reflecting the party’s attempts to engage with the Muslim community. This outreach comes at a time when the Centre’s controversial Waqf Amendment Bill is under scrutiny by a Joint Committee of Parliament. The JD(U), as a key partner in the Narendra Modi-led NDA government, has taken a firm stand that Muslim concerns must be addressed before the bill progresses.

Moreover, Nitish Kumar has recently assigned responsibilities to JD(U)’s 23 national office-bearers, entrusting them with various state-level roles. The party’s national team includes four members from the Luv-Kush communities and three from the EBCs, further underlining the party’s commitment to these groups.

As the Bihar Assembly elections approach, the JD(U)’s strategic restructuring of its state committee underscores its focus on consolidating its core voter base while expanding its reach to other communities. The party’s efforts to balance representation and strengthen ties with key demographic groups will likely play a crucial role in its electoral strategy moving forward.