After creating a political stir by releasing the results of the Bihar caste survey and setting an intent for other States to follow suit, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)], the ruling partners in the mahagathbandhan government, have planned mass mobilisation efforts in the State centred on the survey results ahead of next year’s Lok Sabha election.
Both parties have formed teams to fan out to different districts and constituencies to hold mass interactions and take the message of the survey report to people at the grassroots level. However, in Kalyanbigha, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s hometown in Nalanda district, some residents are expressing scepticism about the report and do not think welfare schemes in the State will be formulated on its basis, while others have reposed faith in Mr. Kumar based on his track record.
Janardhan Singh, whose house lies adjacent to Mr. Kumar’s ancestral home in Barah panchayat, has reservations about the survey results. “It is a political move by the government ahead of the Lok Sabha poll. The report should be divided into two categories: poor and rich. Be it Kurmis, Yadavs, Brahmins, or Muslims, you will find the poor and rich across castes and religions. The survey report will not bring about any change in our lives,” he said.
