The document summarizes the political history of Bihar, India in three periods: 1) Congress dominance from 1947-1967 when power was concentrated among upper castes, 2) Depleting Congress support from 1967-1989 as other parties gained traction, and 3) Political ascendancy of backward castes from 1990s onward which led to the rout of Congress. Key events included the rise of Janata Dal and leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar who mobilized Dalits and Other Backward Castes, while the BJP attracted upper castes. Caste politics dominated Bihar's electoral landscape over these three periods.

1. State Politics
Bihar

2. Introduction
• The Politics of Bihar, a state in eastern India, was characterised, in the
early 2000s, by weak governance and corrupt politicians.
• Earlier the powers were mainly concentrated in the hands of upper caste
people but by 1960’s the scenario begun to change.
• Major political parties in Bihar Janta Dal (United), Rastriya Janta Dal,
B.J.P. and Indian National Congress.
• Bihar’s politics can be divided into three categories:
1. Congress Dominance (1947-1967)
2. Depleting support of congress (1967-1989)
3. Political ascendancy of backward caste and rout of congress (1990’s)
• Land still remains the measure of family’s prestige and social standing in
rural areas.

3. Congress Dominance (1947-1967)
• The powers were mainly concentrated in the hands of upper caste.
• Until 1962, the INC enjoyed monopoly of political space because of
absence of organised opposition groups.
• Scheduled caste were also loyal to the party because of Gandhi’s
movement in Champaran
• Large chunk of Muslims also supported the Congress, though their
representation in the party organisation.
• The most benefited caste of Land reforms were upper backward caste
i.e. Yadavs, Koeri and Kurmis.

4. Continued…
• By 1960’s the upper backward class started joining electoral politics
(Table-1)
Caste Group 1962 1967 1975 1977
Upper Caste 59 55.1 53.9 48.6
Upper
Backward
Caste
28.8 31.6 32.1 34.9
Lower
Backward
Caste
1.7 2.9 2.5 3.6
Muslims 8.8 7.4 7.8 10
Others 1.7 2.9 3.7 2.8
Number of
general seats
242 243 242 249

5. Depleting support of congress (1967-1989)
• The period from 1967 to the Emergency in 1975 was a period of
serious political turmoil in Bihar.
• In late 1960’s their was unstable rule in Bihar.
• After the 1967 Assembly elections, all the opposition parties made
alliance called the Samyukta Vidhayak Dal (SVD).
• However, in Bihar the SVD government did not last long and, using
the factionalism within the coalition, Satish Prasad Sinha became the
CM for 3 days.
• In 1977 election Yadavs had become the second largest group in the
Assembly.
• Their was sharp decline in secondary sector in 1981 it was 7.1% it
dropped to 4.6% in 1991.

6. Bihar Movement.
• The movement was led by Jay Prakash Narayan.
• During emergency the main thrust to hold election was from Bihar
under leadership of Jay Prakash Narayan
• In 1974 and 1976 he established two NGO’s for civil liberties of the
citizens.
• The movements warned Indians that election is their last chance to
choose between Democracy and dictatorship.
• As soon as Emergency was lifted in 1977 and elections were held,
Congress was wiped out in the elections and the Janata Party swept
all Parliamentary seats.

7. Political ascendancy of backward caste and
rout of congress (1990’s)
• In 1989 Lok Sabha elections congress suffered major seatback due communal
riot in Bhagalpur (district).
• Congress also lost it’s support from upper caste and Dalits.
• Dalits and OBCs were getting mobilised under the umbrella of JD with leaders
like Ram Sunder Das, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Nitish Kumar, Ram Vilas Pasvan and
upper caste with B.J.P.
• In 1990 assembly election Janta Dal snatched power from Congress.
• The internal squabbles between Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad divided party
into two.
• In 1996 the report of fodder scam came which put Lalu under the limelight
and he regined.

8. Continued…
• Lalu gave state political stability and kept it away from communal
riots.
• Due rising pressure Lalu reigned as Chief Minister and got his wife
installed and ruled as proxy.
• The decline of Lalu started by the 2000 election on other hand there
is rise of NDA.
• During Lalu’s rule the law and order worsened in sate, the crime share
of Bihar was 14% Murder, 11.2% Kidnaping, 30.9% Dacoits for India as
a whole.

9. Thank you.