Bihar polls: A year after Dalit-on-Dalit clash, old hierarchies shift

Nawada: In the 1990s, Bihar witnessed a social uprising of backward castes against the oppression of the so-called feudal lords of the upper caste. Two chief ministers -- Lalu Prasad Yadav and later Nitish Kumar -- championed Mandal politics and are largely credited for giving voice to the oppressed. Reservation in local bodies for EBCs and categorisation of Maha Dalits among Dalits by Nitish Kumar has empowered a section of OBCs and Dalits. The rise of Ram Vilas Paswan also gave voice to the Paswan community among Dalits who account for little over 5% of the state's population.


With the rise in economy and social power, the feudal hierarchy is also changing and a section of the earlier oppressed are now carrying the vanguard of feudalism.


In September 2024, a Dalit basti in Nawada town was burnt down by a group of people from another Dalit community. Around 34 houses of Musahars and Ravidas (Mahadalits) were attacked over a land dispute by Paswans. The Paswans claimed that they have bought the land from the real owner and it belongs to them. Once the incident was reported, the NDA government provided a compensation of ₹2.3 lakh to the Mahadalits. Nine Paswans were arrested. A year has passed but caste struggle guides voting.

"We still live in fear. I cannot forget how a group of people with Nandu Paswan came and attacked us. The Paswans in the area are rich and they are showing their power. We are living here for 40 years. Now they want us to go somewhere else," Satender Manjhi (45) told ET.

"Nitish Kumar took care of us and has always supported our families. We will vote for him," he said.

Most of the women in the basti are associated with Jeevika self-help groups. "Some of us have received ₹10,000 to start a business from the government," Sarita Devi, wife of Kishan Ravidas,told ET. "Our vote will go to Modi and Nitish Kumar."

In Nawada assembly seat, the main contest is between Vibha Devi of JDU and Kaushal Yadav of RJD. Vibha Devi was the sitting RJD MLA who switched to JDU while Kaushal Yadav was in JDU and is now contesting on an RJD ticket.

The situation is little different in Pran Bigha, the Paswan Basti around a kilometre away from the Mahadalit Basti. There are around 20 houses, all pukka constructions reflecting the economic well-being of the community in the area.

"Nine people were arrested from our village. My husband Rajkumar Paswan and son Sonu are still in jail," Manju Devi told ET. "No one came to our support. Chirag Paswan is our leader but he never showed up. We have decided not to vote."

Nandu Paswan (70), a retired Hawaldar, and said to be the main culprit behind the fire incident is still in jail. "My father-in-law is so old. We are trying hard to get him out on bail. The government hasn't heard our side of the story. The land belongs to us," Sarita Bharti told ET.

Nawada district has five assembly constituencies and the contest is mostly aligned towards caste equation. RJD has fielded Kaushal Yadav from Nawada and his wife Purnima Yadav from Govindpur. LJP (RV) has fielded Vinita Bharti.

On Rajauli SC reserved seat, the RJD denied ticket to sitting MLA Prakash Veer and has fielded Pinki Bharti while LJP (RV) has fielded Bimal Rajvanshi. In Hisua, sitting Congress MLA Neetu Kumari is facing rival BJP candidate Anil Singh. In Warisaliganj, sitting BJP MLA Aruna Devi is facing Anita Mahto, wife of Bahubali Ashok Mahto.