According to Bihar caste survey, 9.98% of Hindu 'upper caste' population has migrated out of the state, depleting their voting power. Of OBCs, 5.39% have migrated, and of EBCs, 3.9%.
On Govardhan Puja, party mobilised thousands of Yadavs to attend a function in Patna. BJP has 7 MLAs and 3 MPs in state, but previous attempts to woo community weren't very successful.
Unlike Karpoori Thakur in the 1970s or Lalu Prasad in the 1990s, Nitish Kumar’s quota politics in Bihar today doesn’t have the same sting that BJP could exploit.
Whether it’s economic status or educational and employment opportunities, caste remains the principal factor in India. The entire country needs Bihar-like MRI on inequality.
Manjhi says Nitish wanted him to be ‘rubber stamp CM’ & JD(U) chief’s use of ‘derogatory terms’ for him indicates that he has become ‘mentally unstable’.
Bihar caste survey has set momentum for start of next phase of Mandal politics nationwide — not only in terms of renewed pressure to hold caste census, but to breach SC’s 50% limit on quota.
Nitish Kumar govt announced decision in Bihar assembly as his government also released socioeconomic data collected as part of caste survey. Survey released 2 October.
Revised quota is apparently over and above Centre's 10% EWS reservation. Under this plan, reservation in Bihar could go up to 20% for SCs, 43% for OBCs and EBCs & 2% for STs.
The collusion between the new class of bureaucrats, politicians, businessmen and trade union bosses perpetuates itself partly because of the short-run benefits and partly because they see no way out of the system, wrote author MH Mody in 1980.
IAF is firming up plans to revamp airlift capabilities with medium transport aircraft that will be assembled in India & serve as its main workhorse. Embraer is leading contender as of now.
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