‘Mandal versus Kamandal’ politics to play out in huge approach in Bihar after Nitish’s change: Political analysts

By PTI

NEW DELHI: With Nitish Kumar forming the Mahagathbandhan 2.0 authorities after dumping the BJP in Bihar, political observers on Wednesday stated the ‘Mandal versus Kamandal’ politics is prone to play out in an enormous approach within the politically essential state forward of the 2024 basic elections.

The time period ‘Mandal-Kamandal’ gained centrality within the mid-90s within the advanced political panorama of two Hindi heartlands –Uttar Pradesh and Bihar–and has been utilized by regional events, which primarily caught to caste-based politics, and the BJP, which strongly adopted the Hindutva ideology.

‘Mandal’ is a time period usually referred to politics involving Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Scheduled Castes.

It has its origins within the Mandal Commission which was established in 1979 by the Janata Party authorities to “identify the socially or educationally backward classes” of India.

‘Kamandal’, a water pot usually utilized by non secular leaders, has through the years change into a metaphor for Hindutva politics.

Congress MP from Bihar’s Kishanganj Mohammad Jawaid stated the BJP’s juggernaut has all the time been stopped in Bihar because the folks of the state are intellectually and politically very conscious they usually perceive that communal forces can’t be potent in governance and wouldn’t have a development-oriented agenda.

Asserting that the political growth in Bihar is prone to have wider implications nationally, he stated regional events are right here to remain.

“During the Independence movement, it was in Champaran that the movement got impetus and people of Bihar were very active in Quit India movement as well, so Bihar has always shown the way to the country,” he advised PTI.

He additionally referred to BJP chief J P Nadda’s reported feedback on regional events just lately and stated such events have been right here to remain and there may be area for everybody in India’s political panorama as it’s a nation that’s large and numerous.

Sanjay Kumar, political commentator and a professor on the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, stated the ‘Mandal versus Kamandal’ politics will probably be again in focus to a fantastic extent in Bihar.

However, he stated the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ will probably be intelligent to not use the ‘Mandal’ or its social coalition as a plank for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

“The axis would be pro-Modi and anti-Modi and around that narrative, they (Mahagathbandhan constituents) will try to mobilise the OBCs. This will be Mandal 2.0. It will be different from Mandal 1.0 which involved aggressive OBC mobilisation. They will try to keep this at a low level and try to use larger narratives to counter Narendra Modi,” Kumar advised PTI.

Asked whether or not there may be additionally a message within the developments in Bihar that the regional events are right here to remain and it’ll not be simple for the BJP to do what it did in Uttar Pradesh by trumping regional rivals, he stated this can solely be answered by what occurs in 2024.

“But at the moment, yes, the regional parties have sent out a strong message that what happened in Maharashtra cannot be done in Bihar. That message has been sent out very clearly,” he stated.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi authorities comprising Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress was introduced down and was changed by a authorities of Shiv Sena breakaway faction led by Eknath Shinde and the BJP.

Manindra Nath Thakur, an Associate Professor on the Jawaharlal Nehru University’s Centre for Political Studies, stated the ‘Mandal versus Kamandal’ politics will come again in an enormous approach.

“Definitely the RJD and the JD(U) will emphasise this issue. Mandal is very important for them,” he advised PTI.

However, he additionally stated that within the final 10-15 years issues have modified rather a lot as BJP has made some inroads into OBC and Dalit inhabitants, so it won’t be really easy for RJD-JD(U).

He additionally stated that the developments in Bihar additionally present that the notion that regional events will probably be worn out isn’t appropriate.

“They are here to stay. BJP should also learn that ignoring pre-poll partners is not a great idea,” Thakur stated and added that Bihar has all the time stopped BJP’s juggernaut.

Thakur additionally stated the BJP’s plank of organising Hindus collectively additionally doesn’t work in some areas in Bihar areas due to the caste configuration there.

Observing that the developments in Bihar can have nationwide implications, political commentator Rasheed Kidwai stated, “if the alliance meets its logical conclusion, Tejashwi Yadav could take over in Bihar and Nitish could be the Opposition’s choice for 2024. What seemed like a one-horse race could become interesting.”

Kidwai additionally stated caste politics will change into extra pronounced not solely in Bihar however elsewhere going ahead.

On Tuesday, a day stuffed with excessive political drama, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar severed ties with ally BJP and embraced the Mahagathbandhan or grand alliance, bringing the highlight on the advanced matrix of politics in Bihar.

Kumar took oath because the Chief Minister of Bihar for the eighth time together with RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, who is about to be designated his deputy.

The growth got here 5 years after Kumar had exited the Mahagathbandhan and shaped the federal government with the BJP in 2017.

Kumar got here again to energy within the 2020 polls with the BJP as an alliance associate.

NEW DELHI: With Nitish Kumar forming the Mahagathbandhan 2.0 authorities after dumping the BJP in Bihar, political observers on Wednesday stated the ‘Mandal versus Kamandal’ politics is prone to play out in an enormous approach within the politically essential state forward of the 2024 basic elections.

The time period ‘Mandal-Kamandal’ gained centrality within the mid-90s within the advanced political panorama of two Hindi heartlands –Uttar Pradesh and Bihar–and has been utilized by regional events, which primarily caught to caste-based politics, and the BJP, which strongly adopted the Hindutva ideology.

‘Mandal’ is a time period usually referred to politics involving Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Scheduled Castes.

It has its origins within the Mandal Commission which was established in 1979 by the Janata Party authorities to “identify the socially or educationally backward classes” of India.

‘Kamandal’, a water pot usually utilized by non secular leaders, has through the years change into a metaphor for Hindutva politics.

Congress MP from Bihar’s Kishanganj Mohammad Jawaid stated the BJP’s juggernaut has all the time been stopped in Bihar because the folks of the state are intellectually and politically very conscious they usually perceive that communal forces can’t be potent in governance and wouldn’t have a development-oriented agenda.

Asserting that the political growth in Bihar is prone to have wider implications nationally, he stated regional events are right here to remain.

“During the Independence movement, it was in Champaran that the movement got impetus and people of Bihar were very active in Quit India movement as well, so Bihar has always shown the way to the country,” he advised PTI.

He additionally referred to BJP chief J P Nadda’s reported feedback on regional events just lately and stated such events have been right here to remain and there may be area for everybody in India’s political panorama as it’s a nation that’s large and numerous.

Sanjay Kumar, political commentator and a professor on the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, stated the ‘Mandal versus Kamandal’ politics will probably be again in focus to a fantastic extent in Bihar.

However, he stated the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ will probably be intelligent to not use the ‘Mandal’ or its social coalition as a plank for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

“The axis would be pro-Modi and anti-Modi and around that narrative, they (Mahagathbandhan constituents) will try to mobilise the OBCs. This will be Mandal 2.0. It will be different from Mandal 1.0 which involved aggressive OBC mobilisation. They will try to keep this at a low level and try to use larger narratives to counter Narendra Modi,” Kumar advised PTI.

Asked whether or not there may be additionally a message within the developments in Bihar that the regional events are right here to remain and it’ll not be simple for the BJP to do what it did in Uttar Pradesh by trumping regional rivals, he stated this can solely be answered by what occurs in 2024.

“But at the moment, yes, the regional parties have sent out a strong message that what happened in Maharashtra cannot be done in Bihar. That message has been sent out very clearly,” he stated.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi authorities comprising Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress was introduced down and was changed by a authorities of Shiv Sena breakaway faction led by Eknath Shinde and the BJP.

Manindra Nath Thakur, an Associate Professor on the Jawaharlal Nehru University’s Centre for Political Studies, stated the ‘Mandal versus Kamandal’ politics will come again in an enormous approach.

“Definitely the RJD and the JD(U) will emphasise this issue. Mandal is very important for them,” he advised PTI.

However, he additionally stated that within the final 10-15 years issues have modified rather a lot as BJP has made some inroads into OBC and Dalit inhabitants, so it won’t be really easy for RJD-JD(U).

He additionally stated that the developments in Bihar additionally present that the notion that regional events will probably be worn out isn’t appropriate.

“They are here to stay. BJP should also learn that ignoring pre-poll partners is not a great idea,” Thakur stated and added that Bihar has all the time stopped BJP’s juggernaut.

Thakur additionally stated the BJP’s plank of organising Hindus collectively additionally doesn’t work in some areas in Bihar areas due to the caste configuration there.

Observing that the developments in Bihar can have nationwide implications, political commentator Rasheed Kidwai stated, “if the alliance meets its logical conclusion, Tejashwi Yadav could take over in Bihar and Nitish could be the Opposition’s choice for 2024. What seemed like a one-horse race could become interesting.”

Kidwai additionally stated caste politics will change into extra pronounced not solely in Bihar however elsewhere going ahead.

On Tuesday, a day stuffed with excessive political drama, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar severed ties with ally BJP and embraced the Mahagathbandhan or grand alliance, bringing the highlight on the advanced matrix of politics in Bihar.

Kumar took oath because the Chief Minister of Bihar for the eighth time together with RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, who is about to be designated his deputy.

The growth got here 5 years after Kumar had exited the Mahagathbandhan and shaped the federal government with the BJP in 2017.

Kumar got here again to energy within the 2020 polls with the BJP as an alliance associate.