Indian politics has historically been influenced by ascriptive factors such as caste, religion, and regional identities. However, in recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on development politics, focusing on economic growth, infrastructure, education, and healthcare. This shift is evident, but its extent varies across regions, including Bihar.

Understanding Development Politics and Ascriptive Politics

1. Development Politics:
   • Focuses on policies aimed at improving the quality of life, such as better roads, schools, healthcare, and economic opportunities.
   • Promotes voter engagement based on governance performance.
2. Ascriptive Politics:
   • Based on fixed identities like caste, religion, or language.
   • Appeals to community loyalties rather than governance or policy outcomes.

Indian Politics Today: The Shift Toward Development

Evidence of Development Politics

• National-Level Trends:
  • Successive elections have seen political parties emphasize developmental schemes like Ujjwala Yojana, PM Awas Yojana, and infrastructure projects.
  • The ‘double-engine government’ narrative (state and center working together) highlights developmental promises.
• Technological Outreach:
  • Political campaigns now focus on reaching voters through digital platforms, often highlighting governance achievements over caste-based appeals.

Persistence of Ascriptive Politics

• Caste and Religion in Electoral Campaigns:
  • Many political parties continue to field candidates based on caste calculations.
  • Communal narratives are sometimes used to polarize voters.

Bihar: A Case Study

Bihar provides a unique lens to examine the balance between development and ascriptive politics.

Transition Toward Development Politics

1. Governance Reforms:
   • Post-2005, the Nitish Kumar-led government emphasized infrastructure development, better law and order, and educational initiatives.
   • Projects like the Mukhyamantri Gramin Sadak Yojana and Bicycle Distribution Scheme for Girls reflect a focus on governance.
2. Development Narratives in Elections:
   • In the 2020 Bihar Assembly Elections, alliances emphasized job creation, economic growth, and healthcare reforms.
   • Parties like BJP-JD(U) campaigned on infrastructure and welfare achievements.

Persistence of Ascriptive Politics

1. Caste-Based Alliances:
   • Political alliances like Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) were strategically formed based on caste considerations.
   • Voters often align with candidates from their own caste group, especially in rural Bihar.
2. Caste Dynamics in Political Leadership:
   • Despite development narratives, leadership selection and ministerial portfolios often reflect caste balancing.

Illustrations

1. Development Successes:
   • Law and Order: Bihar saw significant improvement in law and order post-2005, which became a key electoral plank.
   • Infrastructure Growth: Road connectivity improved substantially, fostering economic opportunities.
2. Caste Influence:
   • The dominance of communities like Yadavs, Kurmis, and Dalits in specific regions continues to influence candidate selection.
   • Political leaders still appeal to caste loyalties during campaign rallies.

Critical Analysis

• Development as a Growing Focus:
  • There is an undeniable shift toward development politics, driven by voter aspirations for better living standards.
  • Governance successes are increasingly used as political capital.
• Ascriptive Politics Remains Strong:
  • Deep-rooted caste and religious identities remain significant in voter behavior, especially in rural and less developed areas.
  • Political parties often combine development narratives with ascriptive appeals for broader voter reach.

Conclusion

Indian politics is gradually shifting toward development politics, as seen in Bihar’s emphasis on governance reforms and infrastructure growth. However, ascriptive politics continues to play a pivotal role, especially in candidate selection and voter mobilization.

To fully embrace development politics, it is crucial for both political leaders and voters to prioritize governance and performance over identity-based affiliations. The balance between these two paradigms will shape the future of democracy in India.