The politics of the EBCs in Bihar

By Admin

29 Oct, 2025

As Bihar gears up for the 2025 Assembly Elections, the political discourse once again turns toward the social realities shaping the state’s democracy. Among the most significant   yet often sidelined   groups are the Extremely Backward Castes (EBCs), who despite forming the largest segment of the state’s population, continue to struggle for equitable political representation.

The Strength in Numbers

According to the recent caste survey, EBCs make up 36% of Bihar’s population, forming a crucial component of the state’s social structure. When combined with the upper OBCs, or upper Backward Castes, the total share of the Backward Castes rises to 63%, a demographic majority that has largely shaped Bihar’s political narrative since the 1990s. However, despite this numerical dominance, the EBCs’ presence in the Bihar Legislature rarely exceeds 10%, revealing a stark disconnect between their population strength and political influence.

The Composition of EBCs

Bihar’s social categorization divides Backward Castes into two groups   Annexure-I (EBCs) and Annexure-II (OBCs).

• Annexure-I, or the more backward category, includes about 112 castes   88 Hindu and Muslim communities such as Dhanuk, Hajjam, Kahar, and Mallah, along with many lesser-known groups like Gulguha and Jadupatia.
  
  

• Annexure-II, or the less backward category, comprises around 30 castes including Kurmis, Koeris, Banias, and Yadavs, collectively referred to as the upper Backward Castes.
  
  

Political scientist Harry Blair observed that several of these castes, such as the Barhis, Kandus, and Kumhars, and Muslim groups like Momins and Rayeens, were not significantly different in terms of social or economic backwardness. Yet, administrative classifications created hierarchical divisions that later shaped Bihar’s caste-based politics.

Historical Roots of Classification

The roots of this stratification go back to 1951, when the Bihar government issued a gazetted ordinance to identify the state’s backward communities. Later, the Kaka Saheb Kalelkar Commission (1955)   the first Backward Classes Commission   recognized 837 “most backward” castes among India’s 2,399 backward groups. In Bihar, 127 Hindu and Muslim castes were classified as backward, which have now been revised to 112 as per the 2022 caste survey.

Among these, 24 Muslim EBC castes, such as Ansari (Momin), Rayeen, Shershahbadi, Rangrez, Dhobi, Idrish, Kasai, Nat, and Bhatiyara, are collectively known as Pasmanda Muslims, underscoring the shared struggles of backwardness across religious lines.

Political Marginalisation Despite Numerical Power

Despite their sheer numbers, the EBCs have struggled to emerge as a cohesive political force. Unlike the Yadavs or Kurmis, who have produced strong political leadership and dominated Bihar’s power corridors, the EBCs remain fragmented across 112 caste identities, making it difficult to mobilize a unified political movement.

This fragmentation has often allowed dominant Backward Caste leaders to appropriate the EBC vote bank without offering proportional representation. The lack of EBC leadership in major political parties and the absence of a consolidated political agenda have kept them on the margins of Bihar’s decision-making process.

The Road Ahead

As Bihar moves toward the 2025 Assembly Elections, the challenge for political parties lies in recognizing the aspirations of this vast and diverse group. For the EBCs, the path ahead involves forging unity across caste lines, demanding greater representation, and ensuring that their voices are no longer overshadowed by dominant caste narratives.

The politics of Bihar’s Extremely Backward Castes, therefore, is not merely about caste arithmetic   it’s about reclaiming identity, representation, and equity in a state where numbers alone have not guaranteed power.