Insaaf Times Desk
Political activity in Bihar is heating up ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, with parties ramping up preparations even before the official announcement. Under the leadership of the Congress Party, the India Alliance has launched the Voter Rights Yatra, raising allegations against the Election Commission of adding fake voters and benefiting the BJP. On the eve of the elections, questions have also been raised about the SIR campaign in Bihar.
Alongside these issues, topics such as development, employment, migration, education, poverty, and industrial growth are being discussed. However, in Bihar’s elections, caste continues to be the central axis of political debate. In this context, the Ati-Pichhada Nyay Yatra (Extremely Backward Justice March) was launched from the Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Smriti Bhawan in Patna under the banner of the Bihar Congress. The 40-day journey will cover all 38 districts of the state and aims to chart a new course for the rights, recognition, and justice of the Extremely Backward Classes (EBC).
According to the Yatra coordinator Kunal Bihari, the initiative is more social than political. “We will visit every district, listen to the problems of the people, convey them to the Congress leadership, and ensure they are included in the party’s manifesto,” he said. Shashibhushan Pandit, President of Congress’ Ati-Pichhada Department, added that the main objective is to raise awareness within the EBC community that they must fight for their rights themselves. He emphasized that following Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur’s principles, the Yatra seeks to build social unity and ensure proportionate social and political representation. He further noted that the community had been politically exploited by leaders like Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar. While Nitish Kumar implemented 65% reservation, the courts halted it, and it was not included in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, leaving the community deprived of education and employment opportunities.
During the Yatra, discussions in each district focus on three key points: honoring individuals working for the EBC community with Ati-Pichhada Samman Patra, issuing certificates signed by Rahul Gandhi to volunteers, and organizing Karpoori Chaupals to screen and discuss ideological films.
The Congress Party has raised several key demands during the Yatra. These include introducing a special law to prevent atrocities against EBCs, increasing local body reservation from 29% to 33%, and establishing an independent Ati-Pichhada Commission considering the community’s 38% population share.
The party also demands that educational and job reservations be increased from 18% to 25% and included in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. It seeks proportional representation in legislatures, government, and party organizations, as well as special quotas in contracts and supply work. The party has also called for clear standards for including any caste in the EBC category.
The Yatra, which began in Patna, proceeded to Karpoori Thakur’s ancestral village Pitonjhiya (now Karpoorigram) for floral tributes, before moving on to Samastipur, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Supaul, Madhepura, and Saharsa. In the coming days, it will cover Araria, Kishanganj, Purnia, Katihar, Bhagalpur, and Khagaria.
The EBC community, comprising about one-third of Bihar’s population, includes castes such as Nai, Dhobi, Teli, Kahar, Machhua, Kushwaha-Maurya, Halwai, Nonia, Lohar, Mali, and Gaderiya. Despite their significant numbers, social fragmentation and educational-economic backwardness have kept this group marginalized in politics for decades.
Historically, Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur was the first to provide separate political recognition through reservations in 1978. Later, Nitish Kumar strengthened his base among EBCs through Panchayat election reservations, making it a core vote bank for JDU. In the 2020 assembly elections, the Mahagathbandhan lost by a few thousand votes, highlighting the critical role of EBC support.
Recognizing this, Congress created a dedicated Ati-Pichhada Department, appointing Shashibhushan Pandit (from the Kumhar community) as president. Similarly, RJD appointed Mangani Lal Mandal, from the Dhanuk caste, as state president to consolidate support, while the BJP also strategically engaged the community, giving prominent roles to Renu Yadav (EBC) and leveraging leaders like Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar.
Historically, EBC politics in Bihar has been influenced by various parties, but it was Karpoori Thakur who first unified the community through reservations. Today, the Congress aims through this Yatra not only to strengthen its political foothold but also to redefine social justice politics, ensuring this significant demographic is actively engaged in Bihar’s political landscape.
