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Kurmi, Kushwaha surge spurs Nitish Kumar’s ascent yet again in Bihar
Kurmis and Kushwahas have become the decisive force behind Nitish Kumar's 10th swearing-in, with their assembly representation reaching record highs. This surge within the NDA's social coalition contrasts with a steep decline in Muslim and Yadav representation following the Mahagathbandhan's collapse.
Two decades after Kurmis and Kushwahas first propelled Nitish Kumar to the helm in Bihar, the two intermediary backward castes have once again emerged as the decisive force behind his unprecedented 10th swearing-in as chief minister. Their presence in the state assembly has climbed to record levels, reflecting a dramatic consolidation within the NDA's social coalition even as Muslim and Yadav representation has registered a steep decline, as per a Times of India report.
The NDA, which combines the top and bottom rungs of the caste hierarchy -- upper castes and Dalits -- with a broad expanse of non-Yadav OBCs and extremely backward classes (EBCs), was the natural recipient of the sweeping mandate. But the sharpest rise has been among Kurmis and Kushwahas, bolstered by the near doubling of seats secured by Nitish Kumar's JDU.
In the newly constituted 243-member assembly, Kurmis now hold 25 seats and Kushwahas (also known locally as Koeris) hold 26, up from 10 and 16 respectively in the previous House. The tally of EBC MLAs has increased from 29 to 35, while upper-caste representation has risen to 72 from 63.
According to the state government's caste survey, Kushwahas make up 4.21% of Bihar's population and Kurmis 2.87%. While Yadavs remain the largest single caste at 14.26%, Kurmis have historically outperformed other backward castes on indicators such as education and government employment -- and have been among the most politically organised. Nitish Kumar himself belongs to the community.
Manindra Nath Thakur, associate professor at JNU's Centre for Political Studies, described the moment as a significant one for both groups. He noted that the castes, tracing their lineage to Luv-Kush, had long displayed a shared political consciousness. Their early break with Lalu Prasad's broader social alliance -- one designed to challenge upper-caste dominance but later perceived as Yadav-centric -- set the stage for Nitish's rise. With the EBC grouping fragmented across dozens of castes and constituting 26% of the population (excluding Muslims), “Kurmi-Koeri are in a position to lead this social alliance,” Thakur observed.
However, political analyst Sanjay Kumar urged caution in reading deeper meaning into the surge. He said the trend was largely “election-specific,” noting that “it is natural because JDU has performed exceptionally well, and the party enjoys a strong support base in these castes.” He added that the enthusiastic turnout from Kushwaha voters also disproved suggestions that the community was drifting away.
While the NDA's sweep has elevated Kurmi-Kushwaha representation to new highs, the collapse of the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan has had the opposite effect on its core supporters. Muslim MLAs now stand at an unprecedented low of 11 in the new assembly, while Yadav representation has dropped sharply from 55 to 28.
With inputs from TOI
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Source: EconomicTimes
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