Caste-based politics has long been a harsh reality in Bihar. The state has witnessed prolonged caste conflicts as well as political battles focusing on challenging the dominance of the upper-caste groups traditionally in power. For decades, political parties have used caste consolidation as the primary tool with which to achieve electoral success. As a result, both democracy and development have remained sidelined for a long period. However, a significant transformation is now taking place. The growing number of female voters in the state is weakening the grip of caste politics and infusing fresh democratic energy into the political arena.


