Patna, Bihar — The Janata Dal (United) has announced a list of 101 candidates corresponding to the number of seats allocated to it within the coalition. Released in two batches, the list clearly reflects a strong focus on caste arithmetic.
This time, the party allotted over half its tickets to OBC and EBC groups — 37 to OBCs, 22 to EBCs. However, when it came to Muslim candidates, JDU significantly scaled back: just four names were declared, compared to ten in the previous term.
An analysis suggests the party diverged from population proportions in distributing tickets. For instance, the OBC population is estimated at around 27.12%, yet the party granted 37 tickets to them. Within OBC allocations, 33 of those 37 went to just three dominant communities — Kushwaha, Kurmi, and Yadav — leaving just four for the remaining tribes.
In the Scheduled Castes (SC) quota, the party awarded 15 tickets, but limited these awards to only six SC communities: Mushar, Manjhi, Ravidas, Pasi, Dusadh, Dhobi, and Dom. Mushar and Ravidas accounted for 10 of those 15. The Dusadh (Paswan) community, though numerically significant, was granted only one nomination—raising questions about internal biases and rivalries.
For the General (upper) castes, 22 seats were allotted — 10 Rajputs, 9 Bhumihars, 2 Brahmins, and 1 Kayasth. This appears disproportionate, considering that general category population is approximately 15.52%.
Among the four Muslim candidates, two are women. These selections were concentrated in the Seemanchal region — namely Araria, Jokihat, Amaur, and Chainpur. This strategy is likely aimed at consolidating Muslim support in those areas. Analysts expect rival parties like RJD and AIMIM might also field Muslim candidates in those constituencies.
While the list underscores JDU’s reliance on caste-based engineering, it also invites scrutiny over whether the party struck a fair balance. Many see it as a deliberate gamble, reflecting both demographic calculations and internal power dynamics.