Caste Factor In Elections

A debate over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks on caste boiled over today as the Congress's new general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra weighed in, saying her party had never raised questions about his caste. Caste is one of the key factors in the heartland state of Uttar Pradesh and Mayawati, who commands a chunk of the Scheduled caste votes...

Like anywhere in India, how people vote in Karnataka is complicated by other factors, caste being the most dominant, especially in non-urban areas.

The key factors of caste and religion are likely to have a multiplier effect in Uttar Pradesh, with a divided opposition ranged against the ruling BJP, indicates data from last elections. It is very likely that a split in these votes may play into the hands of the BJP.

In today's episode of NDTV's 'The Countdown', Prannoy Roy, Shekhar Gupta, Dorab R Sopariwala and NDTV's Kamal Khan talk about the caste angle in Uttar Pradesh politics and how the ordinary voter casts her franchise along these lines.

The Karnataka assembly election is going to be a close fight, opinion polls show, with political parties trying to attract the influential castes such as the Lingayats and the Vokkaligas

The BJP has for decades been the homestead of upper caste Hindus; its opulent victory in the last general election was facilitated by Amit Shah, the party chief, managing to weave together traditional supporters with an assortment of lower and backward castes including Dalits in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

While most political pundits predicted that caste would be the over-riding factor, the Bihar assembly elections have turned into a personality clash between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may refrain from invoking caste in the Bihar polls and choose to talk development, but getting the caste equation right seems to have been the principal factor in ticket distribution by the rival alliances.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today dared the BJP to release the country's caste breakup enumerated in the latest economic and caste census report if they want the welfare of Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Elections are due in the state within a few months.

The coming assembly election appears to have split Delhi down the economic lines - with one section supporting the BJP and the other, the Aam Aadmi Party.

With Karnataka BJP strongman and foe-turned-friend BS Yeddyurappa on his side, and the caste factor working in his favour, 57-year-old Jagadish Shivappa Shettar had things going for him this time, particularly when the Assembly elections are less than a year away.

A debate over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks on caste boiled over today as the Congress's new general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra weighed in, saying her party had never raised questions about his caste. Caste is one of the key factors in the heartland state of Uttar Pradesh and Mayawati, who commands a chunk of the Scheduled caste votes...

Like anywhere in India, how people vote in Karnataka is complicated by other factors, caste being the most dominant, especially in non-urban areas.

The key factors of caste and religion are likely to have a multiplier effect in Uttar Pradesh, with a divided opposition ranged against the ruling BJP, indicates data from last elections. It is very likely that a split in these votes may play into the hands of the BJP.

In today's episode of NDTV's 'The Countdown', Prannoy Roy, Shekhar Gupta, Dorab R Sopariwala and NDTV's Kamal Khan talk about the caste angle in Uttar Pradesh politics and how the ordinary voter casts her franchise along these lines.

The Karnataka assembly election is going to be a close fight, opinion polls show, with political parties trying to attract the influential castes such as the Lingayats and the Vokkaligas

The BJP has for decades been the homestead of upper caste Hindus; its opulent victory in the last general election was facilitated by Amit Shah, the party chief, managing to weave together traditional supporters with an assortment of lower and backward castes including Dalits in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

While most political pundits predicted that caste would be the over-riding factor, the Bihar assembly elections have turned into a personality clash between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may refrain from invoking caste in the Bihar polls and choose to talk development, but getting the caste equation right seems to have been the principal factor in ticket distribution by the rival alliances.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today dared the BJP to release the country's caste breakup enumerated in the latest economic and caste census report if they want the welfare of Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Elections are due in the state within a few months.

The coming assembly election appears to have split Delhi down the economic lines - with one section supporting the BJP and the other, the Aam Aadmi Party.

With Karnataka BJP strongman and foe-turned-friend BS Yeddyurappa on his side, and the caste factor working in his favour, 57-year-old Jagadish Shivappa Shettar had things going for him this time, particularly when the Assembly elections are less than a year away.