The Patna Sahib Assembly seat in Bihar has become a focal point as both the BJP and Congress field first-time candidates, reshaping traditional caste equations. The BJP replaced seven-term MLA and outgoing Assembly Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav, 72, with 45-year-old lawyer Ratnesh Kushwaha. Congress nominated 35-year-old Shashant Shekhar, an IIT-IIM graduate and former associate of Prashant Kishor at I-PAC. This urban constituency, named after Guru Gobind Singh's birthplace, has been a BJP stronghold since 2008 delimitation. The voter base includes Vaishyas, Yadavs, Kurmis, Kushwahas and Muslims. By replacing a Yadav incumbent with a Kushwaha candidate while Congress fields a Yadav, both parties reflect strategic caste recalibration. With 3.88 lakh voters, including nearly 67,000 young voters aged 20-29, the constituency represents a generational shift. Voting occurs in the first phase on November 6. The contest tests whether caste loyalty or urban concerns like development, jobs and infrastructure will dominate.
Candidate Profiles and Strategic Caste Shifts
The BJP's choice of Ratnesh Kushwaha, a 45-year-old lawyer, replaces Nand Kishore Yadav who won seven consecutive terms since 2008. Congress candidate Shashant Shekhar, 35, brings an IIT-IIM background and previous experience working with Prashant Kishor at I-PAC. Jan Suraaj fielded Vinita Mishra, 55. In 2020, Yadav defeated Congress candidate Pravin Singh Kushwaha by 18,300 votes. This election, Congress shifted Pravin to Kahalgaon, where he faces a friendly contest with RJD. The BJP's move from a Yadav to a Kushwaha candidate, while Congress fields a Yadav, signals deliberate caste calculations. The Kushwaha community, associated with agriculture, represents non-Yadav OBCs the BJP aims to consolidate alongside traditional Vaishya supporters.
Voter Perspectives: Caste Versus Development
Local opinions reveal tension between caste identity and governance priorities. Subodh Kumar, a trader, observed that caste remains decisive in Bihar voting patterns, with upper castes favouring BJP and backward castes supporting Nitish Kumar or Lalu Prasad. However, younger voters express different concerns. Postgraduate student Vishwesh Sharma emphasised employment, education and infrastructure, noting severe waterlogging issues. Rohan Verma, 27, said his generation wants jobs and better living conditions, arguing Bihar must move beyond caste-based voting. Auto-rickshaw driver Sunil Rai countered that caste remains inescapable in Bihar, affecting daily interactions. Business owner Akhil Gupta credited development under Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi, praising improved connectivity. Retired employee Rajesh Kumar suggested the outcome depends on which candidate addresses real issues most effectively.
Source: Link