EMERGENCE OF EXTREME BACKWARD CASTES (EBCs) POLITICS IN BIHAR

Abstract

This study attempts to portray the trajectory of the rise and growth of the backward class of Bihar from a historical and political perspective. It will also look into the process of transformation of EBCs from ‘Class- in -itself’ to ‘Class- for- itself’. The Karpoori Thakur Ministry’s reservation policy indicates a sea change in the structure of Bihar’s political sociology. Despite some hiatus, the coming into power of Lalu Prasad-led JD Government, the process of backward dominance in Bihar’s politics accelerated. However, the EBCs failed to keep pace with the OBCs, and a long gap became perceptible between them, though the former also moved ahead. Nitish Government has taken several steps to fill the gap to bring EBCs into the mainstream.