Communal Politics & Caste Politics, Its Impact on the voter?
Communal Politics and caste politics has always been the essential ingredient of Indian political infrastructure. The foundations of all the major political parties are laid on the politics of caste and community. They cannot survive without targeting the caste votes and communal propagandas. This has so much inculcated in the entire system of politics that everything from the grass root level to the upper most level of hierarchy is being dominated by caste and community.
The politics of communalism laid the foundation stone of partitioning of India (Hindustan) into India and Pakistan as two different countries with different set of communal population. The two major political parties of India are Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and Indian National Congress. Both of them are real time players of caste politics. The BJP target Hindu votes on the name of 'Hindutva 'where as Congress targets Muslim votes on the name of 'Hindu Muslim Bhai Bhai'. This has seen almost in every Indian state.
In the states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Rajasthan this tread is seen common everywhere from the lowest level of politics to the appointment of Chief Minister. The ruling party of UP and its leader Smt. Mayavati targets Dalit votes in the name of 'Bahujan Samaj'. The main party of Haryana is Indian National Lokdal and its leader Shri Om Prakash Chautala targets 'Jat' Votes which is based on a particular majority community present in the state. The significant parties like Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirma Sena (MNS) and their flag owners Sh. Balasaheb Thakre and Sh. Raj Thakre of Maharashtra targets people outside Maharashtra or non Marathis and plays bitter caste politics on the name of 'Marathi Manoos'.
In the recent polls result it is clearly visible that the major reason of down fall of BJP government in Rajasthan is its failing to resolve the reservation issue led by 'Gujjars' and it's a live example of caste politics. In Jammu & Kashmir, BJP won 11 seats which is its highest in the state till date is only because they played their main trump card of 'Hindutva' asking land for the Amarnath pilgrims. In the south AIADMK, DMK is another example. In the east 'Left Front' and parties like RJD in Bihar plays significant caste politics and divide people on the name of caste and community. Godhara in Gujarat was the live example of caste politics.
These leaders divide people and make caste and communal politics their main agenda in order to allure a particular group of the society and gather their maximum votes. The nominations from their party are given to the candidates of some particular castes so that they can get maximum votes from their community people. Some bitter speeches are being given so as to divide the groups in the society and carter maximum votes. The flag ship leader is not chosen on the base of his intelligence or social work but on the basis of his caste and community so that he can disguise innocent masses of the society and get their valuable votes so as to win the election. On the short term these parties and leaders unite the people of a particular caste but on the contrary they break the society and inculcate the feeling of hatred amongst the different communities. They are the once who portray some castes as inferior or superior.
The politics of caste and community has a major impact on the votes as virtually no election can be won without targeting this. The influence of region is another major factor. The Education of people plays an important role in winning every election. In the remote areas of UP and Maharashtra where the maximum number of voters are uneducated they find themselves familiar with the leader of their own land and soil. Here comes the caste politics, these parties take the advantage of these situations and nominate someone from their caste or community and not on the basis of education or intelligence. These candidates win their trust votes and again the ground reality remains the same. The politics of caste helps them get the political mileage and win which is their ultimate motto. Another major reason is superstitions prevailing in the society like untouchability and upper castism which still prevails in major part of India; some parties make them their agenda and seek votes on the name of the same.
Thus it can be said very loud and clear that the impact of caste politics and community politics has a great impact on the votes and winning elections. The political parties and leaders play this trump card of caste politics for alluring voters and gain political mileage. Without targeting the communities of the society and playing caste politics it's very difficult to win elections. Moreover the one who indulge more into this type of politics and raise his voice against some other group of people will get more media attention and gains more popularity which in turn will be helpful in spreading their name to the limitless boundaries and get voter attention. This proves as a free publicity for them and this is what is needed for any elections.
Jagdeep S More (Mumbai)
