Fresh churning of Caste factor in Bihar polls

Bihar Assembly elections are due in October-November. All political parties geared up to bolster their caste vote banks before the poll dates are announced. Amid the  hectic political activities, Dalit issue has suddelny come in the front with the come back of Jitan Ram Manjhi led HAM into the NDA fold. His former rival Nitish Kumar reportedly played a key role in bringing him back to his side. 

But after Jitan Ram Manjhi's re-entry, rift surfaces between two of NDA's crucial allies – Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha(Secular). Sources said that Jitan Ram Manjhi’s entry in the NDA fold and his announcement for unconditional support to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has irked LJP chief Chirag Paswan. Manjhi has a history of attacking the LJP leadership.  So the LJP believes that Nitish Kumar brought him in to queer the pitch for the Paswans.
 Another report said that JD (U) chief Nitish Kumar, in an attempt to compensate the exit of Shyam Rajak,has reportedly given the long rope to Manjhi.  Both the HAM and the  LJP have a similar support base of  Dalits. Out of 243 Assembly seats, about 40 seats are reserved for them. Thus a  tug of war for  major share on these seats will  certainly be ensued.
 Political obervers say that in the caste ridden politics, development issues have  never been considered as the top most poll agenda and caste determination bears on  the poll result as seen in previous  elections.  However Chief Minister Nitish Kumar prepares to go in for elections with a positive report card on its “Development with Justice” agenda, hoping for 4th consecutive term as CM. But the observers say that  the ground reality this time  is different.
Dalit votes account for 16% of total vote share. And battle lines are drawn between the ruling NDA and the opposition Grand Alliance for a substantial slice of OBC vote bank and for a larger pie of the Dalit votes. Meanwhile in an effort to woo Dalit votes, Nitish govt.  announced to frame rules for providing job to  one family member in the event of murder of a person of SC/ ST community. CM Nitish Kumar has also asked the Law department  to  expedite the process for the appointment of public prosecutors in order to ensure effective defence of the SC/ST cases at trial level.
On the other side,  migrant workers issue has also come up to be a major poll agenda in the state. Tejashvi Yadav led RJD has launched a dedicated portal and toll free number for preparing data base of unemployed youths. The party sources said that this move will help the party in formulating policies for creating job opportunities, if it comes to power. RJD is still banking on its traditional MY votes. 
BJP national president J P Nadda has asked the party's state leaders and workers to gear up in poll mode. He advised them to organise special  public contact drive from PM Narendra Modi's birthday on 17th September to Mahatma Gandhi's birthday on 2nd October. Nadda also asked MPs to visit at least two panchayats out side their constituencies in a day.
In another important political development, the emergence of a likely third front in coming  assembly elections has introduced an unknown factor into the poll dynamics. Although NDA and Grand Alliance are the major players and the contest is without doubt between these two.  Ex BJP stalwart Yashvant Sinha's United Democratic Alliance and Arvind Kejriwal's AAP are trying to add zing to the state polls. 
 According to the reports, efforts to give shape to a third front has also quietly picked up momentum. Veteran Yashwant Sinha is reportedly in talks with AAP top leaders. UDA, AAP and some other small  political parties are aiming to provide an alternative to voters in Bihar. Sinha said that he is in the fray to change the “stage-managed narrative of 15 years versus 15 years” and provide an “alternative that people could believe in” . He added that UDA will keep away from anyone with corruption and criminal taint. Viewing the present caste-based poll arithmetic in the state, it will be no less than a miracle if  third front emerges as the alternative to 15 years vs 15 years rule.