In a dramatic turn of events in Bihar's political landscape, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) finds itself in firefighting mode after a controversial caste census campaign went terribly wrong in Gaya's Manpur village. The incident has triggered massive backlash from Dalit communities and forced OBC leaders into urgent damage control operations.
Campaign Gone Awry
The trouble began when Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) leaders launched an aggressive campaign urging Dalit communities to declare themselves as Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) during the ongoing caste survey. The move, seen as politically motivated, immediately sparked outrage among village residents who saw it as an attempt to manipulate their genuine caste status.
Dalit Community Backlash
Local Dalit communities expressed strong resentment, arguing that such reclassification would deprive them of specific welfare benefits and reservations meant for Scheduled Castes. "They're trying to erase our identity for political gains," said one angry resident, capturing the sentiment sweeping through the village.
Political Damage Control
The backlash was so severe that senior NDA leaders from OBC communities had to rush to the village for emergency meetings. Sources indicate they're working overtime to contain the political fallout and prevent the incident from damaging the alliance's prospects in upcoming elections.
Broader Implications
This incident highlights the sensitive nature of caste politics in Bihar and the potential pitfalls of mishandling caste-based surveys. The controversy comes at a crucial time when political parties are positioning themselves around caste demographics ahead of important electoral battles.
Political analysts suggest that such missteps could have far-reaching consequences for the NDA's social engineering efforts in Bihar, particularly among Dalit communities who feel their specific concerns are being overlooked.
