Bihar’s Upper Castes: Small In Number, Big In Influence

Summary of this article

Once loyal to the Congress, Bihar’s upper castes shifted toward the BJP and NDA after the Mandal Commission era, becoming a consistent and influential vote bank.

Though only about 15 per cent of the population, upper castes are concentrated in key regions like Mithilanchal, Bhojpur, and Patna, giving them outsized political influence across state elections.

In recent elections, both the BJP and its allies have increased upper-caste representation while balancing outreach to OBCs, EBCs, and Dalits

Bihar has long been known as a state where voting is deeply influenced by caste. Its socio-ethnic diversity, comprising Upper Castes, OBCs, EBCs, SCs, and STs, often leads people to support leaders from their own communities. The phrase “Caste your vote, don’t vote you