New Delhi/Lucknow: As Bihar gears up for the assembly elections next month, there is a sense of political déjà vu in the state. With caste equations and social engineering playing a crucial role, most parties, from the BJP and JD(U) to the RJD, are sticking to tried-and-tested formulas that have shaped the state’s political landscape for decades.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) is leaning on Backward Classes (BCs) and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) as it seeks to return to power in the polls scheduled to be held in two phases on 6 November and 11 November.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is still betting on its upper caste base, while the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), led by Tejashwi Yadav, is banking on its traditional Muslim-Yadav vote bank. Show Full Article

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