How Nitish Kumar has mastered 'Karpoori formula' to establish himself as leader of EBCs

Nitish Kumar's 'ati pichhda' (extremely backward) plank, aimed at addressing the specific needs and challenges faced by the most marginalized within the backward classes.

On Tuesday, a day before the birth centenary celebrations of former Bihar chief minister and Socialist leader Karpoori Thakur, President Droupadi Murmu announced that he would be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award. The announcement received praise from the ruling parties in Bihar- Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) and RJD and the opposition BJP and its allies.

This comes at a time when all major parties in Bihar are vying with each other to woo the Extremely Backward Castes (EBCs) by organising veteran socialist leader’s birth centenary celebrations. Owning the legacy of Karpoori Thakur is crucial for parties in mobilising the votes of the OBC castes in Bihar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Thakur as "the beacon of social justice." Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar also hailed the announcement: "This highest honor will create positive sentiments among the Dalits, deprived and neglected sections

Why EBCs form a decisive chunk

Extremely backward classes--EBCs – a conglomerate of 130 smaller castes- constitute 36.1 percent of the state’s population. In majority of the times, EBCs decide the winner in closely fought elections and so every party is trying to woo them ahead of upcoming Lok Sabha election.

How Mungeri Lal Commission served as a precursor to the Mandal Commisssion

Karpoori Thakur served as the chief minister of Bihar twice- first between December 1970 and June 1971 as part of the Bharatiya Kranti Dal and later between December 1977 and April 1979 from the Janata Party. During Thakur’s chief ministership in 1977, the Mungeri Lal Commission submitted its report recommending that backward classes be reclassified as extremely backward classes (including weaker sections of Muslims) and backward classes.

The report was implemented in 1978. This paved the way for 26 percent reservation for them in the government services in Bihar in November 1978.

Tracing Karpoori Thakur’s legacy

Thakur, born in 1924, was from a backward section and joined the Independence movement at a young age. He was also imprisoned during that time. Later, he rose to become a legendary socialist leader who served as Bihar Chief Minister twice. He is remembered for his commitment to the cause of marginalised sections and his push for affirmative action. He died in 1988, during his second term as Chief Minister.

His tenure is also best remembered for implementation of the recommendations of Mungeri Lal Commission, whereby quotas for backward classes were introduced in the state, much before the 1990s' Mandal Commission changed the national political contours.

Karpoori Karpoora, Chhod Kursi, Pakad Ustura

When Karpoori took the oath as CM for the first time, a slogan emerged that asked him to leave his chair and return to being a barber: “Karpoori Karpoora, Chhod Kursi, Pakad Ustura”.

How Nitish Kumar effectively uses Karpoori formula

Nitish Kumar used the “Karpoori formula” to classify Backward Classes into two categories to establish himself as the leader of the EBCs to counter Rashtriya Janta Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.

The ‘Karpoori Thakur Formula' provided 26 percent reservation, of which OBCs got a 12 percent share, the economically backward classes among the OBCs got 8 percent, women got 3 percent, and the poor from the "upper castes" got 3 percent.

This later influenced Nitish Kumar's 'ati pichhda' (extremely backward) plank, aimed at addressing the specific needs and challenges faced by the most marginalised within the backward classes.

His 'Karpoori Thakur Formula,' faced opposition but contributed significantly to Bihar's social and political landscape.

BJP's attempt to capitalise on Karpoori Thakur’s legacy

The BJP's nomination of Thakur for Bharat Ratna aims to capitalise on his legacy and win the support of backward castes. Thakur, belonging to the Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), represents the most numerous demographic in Bihar, comprising 36 percent of the population. The move is seen as an attempt to create common ground between the BJP and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.