Impact of Casteism on Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Elections 2018: A Political Study

Mr. Amritesh Shukla**, Dr. D.N. Suryawanshi - a. Research Scholar, Department of Political Science, S.R.C.S. Arts and Commerce College, Durg (Chhattisgarh) b. Principal, S.R.C.S. Art and Commerce College, Durg (Chhattisgarh)

The present research paper titled "Impact of Casteism on Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Elections 2018: A Political Study" tends to study the role of casteism in the electoral politics of Chhattisgarh. Casteism is a very unique and important factor of Indian polity. No doubt the state politics is also affected by it. Casteism is deep rooted and its significance cannot be ignored by any political party while contesting elections or while taking any policy decisions when in power. This research paper focusses on the Chhattisgarh legislative assembly elections 2018. This was a historic election as the congress party came to power after 15 years. The strategy adopted by the party to win the electoral battle was to concentrate on the caste equations in the state. The Sahu and Kurmi castes form the bulk of the OBC population in the state. They have played pivotal role in electoral politics of the region and have produced stalwart leaders in the history and in present times too. The paper tries to understand the candidates fielded by parties based on caste and the promises they made during election campaign to woo the castes. The rise of Mr. Bhupesh Baghel, leader of Kurmi community and Mr. Tamradhwaj Sahu, leader of Sahu community in the Congress party before elections ensured the OBCs especially the dominant Sahus and Kurmis that Congress has started acknowledging their electoral importance. After the elections too, Mr. Bhupesgh Baghel was made the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and Tamradhwaj Sahu was made the Home Minister showing the electoral prowess of these two OBC communities.


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How to cite this article:
Shukla A. & Suryavanshi D. (2019) : Impact of Casteism on Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Elections 2018: A Political Study. Research Expression 3 : 4 & 5 (2019) 8 - 12