People Politics and Protest (6)

The caste background of Karpoori Thakur always shadowed his leadership despite his unparalleled acumen and competence to deal with the contentious politics of Bihar. The questions that continue to be argued during and after the lifetime of Karpoori Thakur revolve around his influence in shaping the foundation of anti-congress politics by invigorating backward caste politics in Bihar. He represented the political aspirations of the intermediary castes and posed a formidable challenge to upper caste/class politics in the state. Karpoori was one of the foremost socialist leaders of the state who provided impetus to the idea of social justice and influenced the contours of backward caste politics that demonstrated its first electoral triumph as early as in 1967 and continues to dominate state politics since 1990.