Caste in HImachal Politics

annithisweek.in ShivrajSharma Chavinder Sharma

Caste in HImachal Politics

                

Caste politics has reportedly been practiced by almost all political parties, though, they don’t admit it. Even as no census on caste basis has ever been done in the country and Himachal, yet the leader gather information about number of voters belonging to dominating castes residing in a particular assembly segment or parliament constituency. Consequently, political parties field candidates of that particular cast hoping that it would enhance their winnability. Both the main political parties in Himachal, the Congress and BJP, are no different while selecting their candidates for elections. Interestingly, Rajput community has been dominating state politics as the state had chief ministers from this community barring two occasions in 1997 and 1990 when Brahmin leader Shanta Kumar occupied the hot chair. Himachal has nearly 37.5% Rajput, 26.5% SC, 18% Brahmin, 16.5% others and 1.5% Gaddi population.

Himachal’s Chief Ministers

Dr. Y.S. Parmar    :  Rajput

Ramlal Thakur     : Rajput

Shanta Kumar     :  Brahmin

Virbhadra Singh  :  Rajput

P.K. Dhumal        :  Rajput

 Rajputs Dominate Himachal Politics

Himachal politics has been dominated by Rajput leaders as Dr. Y.S. Parmar became first chief minister of the state on April 24, 1952. He remained chief minister for four consecutive terms. Thereafter Shanta Kumar became chief minister for the first time on June 22, 1977 and for the second time on April 5, 1990. The state had 16 chief ministers till now and Shanta Kumar is only Brahmin leader to become chief minister twice. Rajputs have always dominated the hot seat. Political parties also like cast equations as leaders think that a Rajput leader has more chances of winning if fielded from an area dominated by the voters of this community.  It is another fact that census has not been ever carried out on caste basis in the country and Himachal. Leaders have gathered figures on their own to form a parameter to field candidates of a particular community.

*   Kangra district has more population of Rajputs, Brahmins and Other Backward Classes. As a result, parties have been allocating tickets to leaders of these communities to contest elections.

 8 Lakh OBC Voters

Total Population: More than 12 Lakh

Other Backward Classes have presence in 16 assembly segments with dominance in three seats in Himachal.  In addition, Chuhar Valley in Mandi, Malana in Kullu and Chhota and Bara Bhangal areas in Kangra district have been declared as OBC areas. Nearly eight lakh voters out of a total population of 12 lakh of other backward classes are dominant in Kangra district, including 70% in Nagrota Bagwan, 60% in Kangra, 40 % in Dharamshala, 35% in Dehra, 40% in Shahpur and 35% in Jawali. They are present in good numbers in Palampur, Sulah, Jwalamukhi, Nurpur, Nadaun, Chitpurni, Santokhgarh, Paonta Sahib and Nalagarh segments.

 Prominent Leaders

*   Chaudhary Hari Ram of Kangra got 2% quota in education for OBCs as minister after independence

*   Three time MP Narayan Chand Prashar of Congress also remained minister in Himachal

*   Chaudhary Chander Kumar of Congress remained minister and MP

*   Hardyal Chaudhary of Nagrota Bagwan remained minister

*   Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar of Palampur remained Assembly Speaker and contested Lok Sabha election on BJP ticket

*  Four time MLA Chaudhary Vidya Sagar of Kangra remained minister in BJP government

*   Ramesh Dhwala of Jwalamukhi, Hari Narayan Saini of  Nalagarh and Sarveen Chuadhary of Shahpur remained ministers in BJP government

 A Large Vote Bank of SCs

Total Population: 17, 29, 252

Scheduled Castes (SC) community is second largest population in Himachal as they account for 26% (17, 29, 252) of the total population. The SC community constitutes 29% of the total population in neighbouring Punjab. Having a population of 1729252 in the state people from this community has presence in politics, officials, employees, businessmen, farmers and horticulturists. Despite their large presence, Bahujan Samaj Party has negligible presence in Himachal. As a result, main political parties have been able to capture this large vote bank. Political observers feel that united SC community can decide poll prospects in any election. However, this has not been achieved due to difficult geographic conditions of Himachal.

None Reached Top Seat

There have been many MLAs and MPs but no one could reach the top seat from SC community. They have good representation in administrative and police services but this community also faces poverty and unemployment.

*   Himachal is at second place after Punjab in the country in terms of population of SC community

*   SC community has representation in all fields

*   Congress and BJP have traditional vote bank in this community

Brahmins Play Kingmaker’s Role

Brahmins have played the role of kingmaker in Himachal politics but only BJP’s Shanta Kumar could reach the hot seat twice though leaders from this community have established themselves in Central politics. Prominent among these are Shanta Kumar, Sukh Ram and Anand Sharma. Sukh Ram tried all political maneuvers in nineties to become Himachal chief minister but could not succeed. Virbhadra Singh was able to scuttle all his moves that were planned outside the state. As a result, Himachal Vikas Congress party emerged that ousted Congress from the power. J.P. Nadda was viewed as future chief minister of Himachal when he came to state politics from the Centre. He is again active in Central politics. Brahmins leaders are also progressing actively in BJP politics in Himachal

 Prominent Leaders

G.S. Bali, Mukesh Agnihotri, Sudhir Sharma, Anil Sharma, Rajesh Dharmani, Inderdutt Lakahanpal, Sanjay Rattan (Congress) and JP Nadda, Suresh Bhardwaj, Randhir Sharma, Khimi Ram, Gobind Sharma (BJP) and
Dr. Rajan Sushant (AAP)

 Successful Brahmin Leaders

* Shanta Kumar

* Pandit Sukh Ram

* Anand Sharma

* Daulat Ram Sankhyan

* Pandit Padamdev

* Rajkishan Gaur

 Buddhists can’t be undermined 

Total Population: Nearly 1 lakh

People of Buddhist community are located in all parts but are more in number in tribal areas of the state and two MLAs from Kinnaur and Lahaul & Spiti represent these areas every time. These people are mostly engaged in horticulture activities and cultivation of cash crops like peas, potato and others in cold desert of Lahaul & Spiti that also accounts for herbal medicines. The Congress and BJP have traditional vote banks and no other party has been able to make inroads in these areas. Jagat Singh Negi, Ravi Thakur (Congress) and Tejwant Negi, Dr. Ram Lal Markandey (BJP) are prominent leaders.

STs Influence Politics

Total Population 312, 126

Both the main political parties have always kept an eye on a large population of schedule tribes who have their presence in all 12 districts of Himachal, with majority of them located in Chamba district and Chhota and Bara Bhangal areas of Kangra district. However the native places of schedule tribes located in far flung areas of the state still lack in basic infrastructural facilities and literacy rate

Muslims on Sidelines

Total Population: 119,512

Muslim community has largest population (119,512) among minority communities in Himachal. No leader has been able to get a ticket from any party though community is political active since long. As they are scattered in all parts of the state, this situation doesn’t suit parties politically. They constitute 1.97% of Himachal’s population.

Key Role of Gaddis in Politics

Total Population: 582,600

Gaddis having a population of 582,600 primarily reside in Chamba and Kangra district and the community plays an important role in Kangra parliamentary election. The are primarily dominant in Baijnath, Palampur, Dharamshala, Shahpur, Jawali, Nurpur, Fatehpur, Bhatiyat, Churah, Dalhousie, Chamba and Bharmour segments.

Important Role of Sikhs in Himachal’s Development

Total Population: 72,355

Achievements of Sikhs can’t be underestimated even though their population is not big in Himachal. They have played important role in politics also Sardar Bachitar Singh from Jhanduta in Bilaspur became first Cabinet minister followed by Rattan Singh of Paonta Sahib. However, later Harinarayan Singh was in much limelight when he became IPH minister in BJP government in 1998 and undertook numerous developmental projects in the area. After him, no Sikh has been in the limelight in politics.

Christian, Jain Communities not Interested in Politics

Total Population :        Number

Christian           :        7687

Jain                  :        1408

Christian community has a population of 7687 in Himachal with most of them located in Kangra (2202) and Shimla (1405), according to 2011 census. None of the leaders from this community is seemingly active in politics and most of them are either government servants or associated with missionary educational institutes. Jaini community also has a meager population of 1408 mostly located in Solan district. People from this community are either employed in jobs or engaged in business activities