Ahead of Bihar Elections, CM Nitish Kumar Announces Development Commission for Forward Castes. BJP leader Mahachandra Prasad Singh appointed as chairman. The commission will function for three years and study the societal needs.
Bihar News: Bihar's political landscape is witnessing another significant development. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has made a strategic move ahead of the elections, announcing the formation of a special commission for the development of forward castes in the state. This commission has been named the "Upper Caste Commission." Kumar's announcement is being viewed as a major political strategy in the context of the upcoming assembly elections.
Commission's Formation and Responsibilities
The Nitish Kumar government has appointed Mahachandra Prasad Singh, a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to head the commission. He has been appointed as the chairman. Rajiv Ranjan, the chief spokesperson of the Janata Dal United (JDU), has been appointed as the vice-chairman. The commission will have a three-year term and its objective will be to formulate plans for the development of forward castes in the state and address their concerns.
Previous Savarna Aayog, Now with a Renewed Focus
It is noteworthy that a Savarna Aayog (Forward Caste Commission) was previously formed in Bihar, but it later became inactive. Nitish Kumar has now decided to reconstitute it. This step signifies the government's intent to address the concerns of forward castes and formulate plans for their development. This decision holds particular significance given the proximity of the state assembly elections.
Minority Commission Also Reconstituted
The Nitish government is not only focusing on forward castes but also on other sections of society. Recently, the government also reconstituted the Minority Commission, appointing Gulam Rasool Baliavi as its chairman. Baliavi is a former JDU Rajya Sabha MP and has been critical of the government's stance on Waqf laws. His appointment to this commission is seen as an attempt to maintain political balance.
Caste Census and the Issue of Forward Castes
The issue of caste census has always been a major political topic in Bihar. The state government has already completed its caste census, while the central government has recently decided to conduct a nationwide caste-based census. It will be interesting to see what steps this commission takes for the development of forward castes based on the data from the caste census, especially in areas with a larger population of forward castes. Time will tell the impact of this decision.
