Why Development in Bihar is About Social Justice
While it has now become a cliché to condemn Lalu Prasad Yadav for presiding over Bihar’s alleged descent into ‘casteist’ lawlessness from 1990 to 2005, his achievements cannot be overlooked
Even as analysts debate the causes for the Mahagathbandhan’s astounding victory in the Bihar elections and explain the BJP’s debacle, they have continued to portray the contest as one of caste versus development.
On the one hand, apologists for the National Democratic Alliance suggest that the social coalition crafted by the Grand Alliance of the Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress won the day, reflecting the victory of caste politics yet again. Throughout the electoral campaigns, the NDA had sought to appropriate the development plank, warning their constituencies of the return of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s so-called ‘jungle raj’ if the Mahagathbandhan were to come to power. On the other hand, sympathsiers of the Mahagathbandhan claim that the results are a positive reflection on Nitish Kumar’s commitment to development. They point to electrification, schools and improved law and order under Nitish’s 10-year old reign as support for their claims.
If one side insists that caste politics has prevailed, the other interprets the result as a vote for development. What both sides ignore is the extent to which the results reflect the continuing importance of social justice and dignity to India’s oppressed and impoverished communities.