The concept of caste alliances has been a dominant feature of Indian politics. While some argue that caste identities are primordial and unchanging, others believe that caste alliances are shaped by secular and political factors. In this answer, we will discuss how caste alliances have emerged from secular and political factors, rather than primordial identities.

Secular and Political Factors

Reservation and Representation: The British colonial era created a system of reservation and representation for different castes, which further solidified caste-based politics. This led to the emergence of caste-based parties and alliances, which were more concerned with securing political power and benefits rather than with traditional or primordial identities.

Political Parties: The rise of regional parties in the 1990s, such as the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP), further solidified the importance of caste politics in Indian politics. These parties have based their electoral campaigns on caste-based mobilization, creating a sense of identity among different castes.

Recent Examples: The 2019 Lok Sabha elections saw the emergence of caste-based alliances in several states. For example, in Uttar Pradesh, the BSP formed an alliance with the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal to challenge the BJP-led coalition. Similarly, in Bihar, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) formed an alliance with the Congress and other parties to challenge the NDA coalition.