‘KUSHWAHA’ POLITICS IN THE SHADOW OF DIVISION AND REBELLION

23-JULY-ENG 11

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA---------------------If we look at the past trend in Bihar elections, both NDA and Mahagathbandhan have their eyes on the 'Kushwaha caste'. At present, 'Kushwaha' is in the role of kingmaker-

Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 is a litmus test for both NDA and Mahagathbandhan. In terms of vote bank, both the alliances are ready for a close contest. In the 2020 assembly elections, the margin of victory and defeat was less. Kushwaha vote bank is a hot cake for political pulses. In such a situation, both the alliances are ready to bet on the Kushwaha caste. Its sample was seen during the Lok Sabha elections.

The National Democratic Alliance and the Grand Alliance are moving forward with Mission 2025. There is going to be a close fight between both the alliances. In the last assembly elections, the grand alliance was left behind in the elections by a small margin of votes. In the 2020 assembly elections, the difference of votes between the NDA and the grand alliance was 0.03%. While the National Democratic Alliance got 37.26% votes, the grand alliance got 37.23% votes. There was a difference of only 12767 votes between the two alliances.

The margin of victory and defeat in the assembly elections was less. To bridge this, Lalu Prasad Yadav did an experiment during the Lok Sabha elections. He tried to add Kushwaha to MY. The Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Grand Alliance fielded Kushwaha caste candidates on five out of 40 Lok Sabha seats. Three Kushwaha candidates were fielded on the ticket of Rashtriya Janata Dal, one on the ticket of CPI(ML) and one on the ticket of VIP. The Rashtriya Janata Dal also got success on two seats. Aurangabad MP Abhay Kushwaha was also made the leader of the parliamentary party by the Rashtriya Janata Dal.

According to the caste census data, the population of Kushwaha caste in Bihar is 4.21%. The population of Kushwaha is believed to be more than 55 lakhs in the state. However, the people of Kushwaha caste are not satisfied and they say that our population is even more. Kushwaha caste is considered to be intact with the NDA due to the Luv-Kush equation, but the division of Kushwaha votes during the Lok Sabha elections has increased the concern of NDA leaders.

The National Democratic Alliance has started an exercise to fix the Kushwaha vote bank. Efforts are being made to satisfy the leaders of Kushwaha caste before the assembly elections. The National Democratic Alliance has given place to a large number of Kushwaha caste leaders in boards, corporations and commissions. BJP leader Rupnarayan Mehta was made the chairman of the State Farmers Commission, while Angad Kushwaha was appointed as a member of the Food Conservation Commission. Dayanand Kushwaha was appointed as a member of the Trust Board.

Board Commission and Kushwaha: Pinky Kushwaha was appointed as a member of the Women's Commission. Dhareshwar Kushwaha was made a member of the Sanskrit Board. Hemlata Verma was appointed as a member of the Citizens' Council, while Virendra Kumar Singh was made the General Secretary of the Citizens' Council. Renuka Kushwaha was made a member of the Citizens' Council. Umesh Chandra Prasad was also appointed as a member of the Citizens' Council.

If we talk about the National Democratic Alliance, then during the Lok Sabha elections, the National Democratic Alliance had fielded candidates of Kushwaha caste on four seats. Upendra Kushwaha contested from Karakat Lok Sabha constituency. Vijayalakshmi Kushwaha was given a ticket on the Siwan Lok Sabha seat. Santosh Kushwaha was the candidate from Purnia Lok Sabha constituency. Sunil Kushwaha was fielded on the Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha seat. Two of the four NDA candidates won. Sunil Kushwaha and Vijayalakshmi managed to win the election.

The people of Kushwaha caste consider Emperor Ashoka, Jyotiba Phule, Savitribai Phule and Amar Shaheed Jagdev as their ideals. Kushwaha caste was earlier called 'Koiri' caste. 'Koiri' means 'fruit' and those who cultivated fruits were also called Koiri in the past. Koiri as a caste is first mentioned in 'Varna Ratnakar Granth'. Which was written in Maithili language. Kushwaha as a caste is mentioned around the ninth and tenth century. Varna Ratnakar Granth was written around the 14th century.

The script of forward-backward Koiri in Bihar was written in 1934, when people of three castes together formed Triveni Sangh. Yadav, 4 Koiri and Kurmi were included in Triveni Sangh. Triveni Sangh was formed by Yadunanand Prasad Mehta, Shivpujan Singh and Jagdev Singh Yadav. Triveni Sangh was formed in Shahabad district of Bihar for political unity as well as participation in politics for backward castes. People of Kushwaha caste consider Emperor Ashoka as their ancestor. Emperor Ashoka was called Chakravarti Raja. Emperor Ashoka is considered one of the greatest rulers. Emperor Ashoka's name is written in golden letters. It is said that during the time of Emperor Ashoka, large parts of the world were under India. Emperor Ashoka's ancestors were associated with agriculture and people of Kushwaha caste have also been associated with agriculture, due to which Kushwaha society considers itself close to Emperor Ashoka. Historian and Patna University professor Dr. Jaydev Mishra says that '

'In history, there is no mention anywhere about Emperor Ashoka or Chandragupta Maurya that he belonged to Kushwaha or Koiri caste. At that time, the caste system was less and the varna system was more.' - Dr. Jaydev Mishra, Professor, Patna University

People of Kushwaha caste consider Jyotiba Phule as their ideal. Bihar People of Kushwaha community also worship Jyotiba Phule. Mahatma Jyotiba Phule was born on 11 April 1827 in Pune. Jyotiba Phule had started a movement against caste system and women education. He was the first to start the work of women education and upliftment of untouchables in Maharashtra. Due to his efforts, the first school for girls was opened in Pune. Jyotiba Phule emphasized on monotheism and founded the Prarthana Samaj.

People of Kushwaha community also worship Savitribai Phule. Savitribai Phule became the first female teacher and after passing the fourth examination in 1847, she decided to become a teacher. Savitribai Phule is named for changing the status of women in the country. She along with her husband Jyotiba Phule opened a school for girls in 1848.

People of Kushwaha community consider Veer Shaheed Jagdev Prasad as an ideal in Bihar. Martyr Jagdev used to give the slogan '90 out of 100 are exploited and 90 is ours'. Martyr Jagdev was born on 2 February 1922 in Kurhari village of Kurtha block of Arwal district of Bihar. Martyr Jagdev was also called Lenin of Bihar.

Martyr Jagdev played an active role in the JP movement. He dedicated his life for the rights of the backward classes. On 5 September 1974, during Satyagraha, the police shot at him in Kurtha, despite which he did not step back. In an injured state, the police dragged him to the police station, after which he died.

People of Kushwaha caste also look at Yadunanand Prasad Mehta with respect. Triveni Sangh was formed due to the efforts of Yadunanand Prasad Mehta. Yadunanand Prasad Mehta was a resident of Lakhan Tola Jagdishpur from Bhojpur district. He decided to go to Burma after hearing the plight of migrant farmers from Burma (Myanmar). He had sold his three bighas of land for the struggle of Burma farmers. He had also started publishing a magazine named Shoshit Pukar.

Social thinker Prem Kumar Mani says that "Mention of Kushwaha caste is found in the medieval period. People of Kushwaha caste are known by different names in the country. In 1912-14, the first organization of Kushwaha caste was formed and Koyari Hitkarini Sabha was formed. In 1936, JP Chaudhary called for naming Koyari people as Kushwaha."

JP Chaudhary was a Sanskrit teacher. He opened an ashram in Banaras and used to teach Sanskrit to people there. JP Chaudhary told people that you people are Kshatriyas and should wear the sacred thread. He worked to unite many vegetable producing castes and Kushwaha Mahasabha was formed. People of Kushwaha caste are known by the names Saini, Shakya, Maurya, Mali in different states.

Rashtriya Janata Dal claims that our leader Lalu Prasad Yadav has shown the most concern for the Kushwaha caste. He has worked to take the fight for social justice forward. RJD not only gave Abhay Kushwaha a ticket for the Lok Sabha elections but also made him the leader of the parliamentary party after winning.

"We gave five tickets to the people of Kushwaha caste during the Lok Sabha elections, out of which two were successful in winning. During the assembly elections too, we will work to give respect to the people of Kushwaha caste. The party has made Abhay Kushwaha the leader of the parliamentary party. Alok Mehta is also the party's principal general secretary." - Ejaz Ahmed, RJD spokesperson

BJP leader Sanjay Kushwaha has claimed that the people of Kushwaha caste are intact with the NDA. The Luv Kush equation is still strong. The people of the Kushwaha community have not forgotten when their crops were harvested. Lalu Prasad Yadav's people used to harass and destroy them. We have given respect to the people of the Kushwaha caste.

"During the Lok Sabha elections, NDA gave four tickets out of which two were successful in winning. My party made Samrat Chaudhary the Deputy Chief Minister and we sent Upendra Kushwaha ji to the Rajya Sabha. A large number of Kushwaha caste leaders have also been given place in the commission." - Sanjay Kushwaha, BJP leader

Writer and social thinker Tejkar Jha says that "Mention of Kushwaha caste is found in the ninth and tenth century. It is mentioned in Varna Ratnakar. Kushwaha caste is very strong in central and south Bihar and they have contributed to the direction of today's politics."

Regarding the Kushwaha caste, Francis Bacon had said that "During the British rule, these people also used to cultivate opium. People of Kushwaha caste used to do farming and earlier these people came in the Vaishya category."

If RJD and Mahagathbandhan succeed in making a dent in the Kushwaha vote bank in the assembly elections, then it will not only bridge the gap of last time but will also take the lead. On the other hand, NDA and JDU do not want to let this happen at any cost. NDA will not let its existing vote bank slip out of its hands. Because everyone knows that in this assembly election too, 'Kushwaha' is again seen in the role of kingmaker.