The INDIA bloc is officially launching its Bihar Assembly election campaign with a significant focus on the Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs). They are set to unveil a special manifesto designed specifically for this politically vital demographic. This launch will coincide with the Congress Working Committee meeting in Patna on September 24, 2025.
According to insiders, a key highlight of this manifesto will be a commitment to enact a law for EBCs, mirroring the protective framework of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. This concept, initially proposed by the CPI(ML), has been under development for months. Its rollout was previously postponed due to the INDIA bloc’s campaign against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
All prominent leaders from the INDIA bloc are expected to attend the manifesto’s unveiling.
A caste-based survey conducted by the Bihar government in October 2023 revealed that a substantial 36% of the state’s population falls under the EBC category, encompassing 112 distinct castes. Notably, only four of these—Teli, Mallah, Kanu, and Dhanuk—each represent over 2% of Bihar’s total population.
Krishna Allavaru, the Congress in-charge for Bihar, stated, “We are preparing specific manifestos for every segment of society, and this one marks the beginning of that series.”
Bihar’s government initiated its first classification of the population based on social and economic backwardness in 1951. This led to the creation of two lists of Backward Classes, which included Hindu and Muslim caste groups considered economically and socially disadvantaged but not designated as Scheduled Castes or Adivasis. These lists, known as Annexure I and Annexure II, are now commonly understood to represent the Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) and Other Backward Classes (OBC), respectively.
Annexure I, the EBC list, comprised approximately 78 Hindu and Muslim castes, including communities like Dhanuk, Hajjam, Kahar, and Mallah. Annexure II, on the other hand, enumerated 30 castes, such as Barhi, Kandu, and Kumhar, along with Muslim castes like Momin and Rayeen. This second list also featured more socio-economically advanced groups like Bania, Koeri, Kurmi, and Yadav.
Historically, socialist leader Karpoori Thakur pioneered the implementation of a 12% reservation for EBCs. Following this, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar significantly expanded social welfare programs for this demographic and incorporated additional caste groups, effectively cultivating a strong base of electoral support.
The Congress party has also intensified its outreach to this crucial segment. Earlier this year, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, visited Darbhanga for the ‘Shiksha aur Nyay Samvad’ (Education and Justice Dialogue). During this event, he engaged with Backward Classes, EBCs, Dalits-Mahadalits, and minority communities, championing the cause of reservations in private educational institutions. Furthermore, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, a key member of the INDIA bloc, is strategizing to nominate numerous EBC candidates in the forthcoming elections.
The Upcoming CWC Meeting
The CWC meeting is anticipated to deliver a powerful statement condemning alleged “vote theft” and criticizing the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
Prior to the Patna meeting, the Congress unveiled a list of CWC members and senior leaders who will hold press conferences across 20 districts in Bihar. Their agenda will focus on the issues of “vote theft” and the “Har Ghar Adhikar” (rights for every household) campaign.
In a recent post on X, Mr. Gandhi further connected the issue of unemployment to “vote theft.”
Mr. Gandhi asserted, “The most pressing challenge for India’s youth is unemployment, an issue directly tied to ‘vote theft.’ A government, upon gaining the public’s trust, has a primary responsibility to create jobs and opportunities for its young citizens. However, the BJP, he claimed, secures power through dishonest electoral practices and by undermining institutions. This is precisely why unemployment has soared to its highest level in 45 years, why job prospects are diminishing, recruitment systems are failing, and the future of our youth is being cast into darkness.”