The changing sociopolitical profile of local political elites (mukhias) in Bihar
A study of the 1978 and 2001 panchayat elections
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3865641 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Ashok Kumar Pankaj (Ashok Kumar Pankaj is at the Department of Political Science, Vaish College, Rohtak, Haryana, 124 001.), Ashok Pankaj (0000-0002-7969-1427), Mahendra Prasad Singh (University of Delhi) |
| Year | 2005 |
| Volume | 39 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 407-428 |
| Publication date | 2005-10-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Contributions to Indian Sociology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0069-9659 • E-ISSN: 0069-9667 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1177/006996670503900303 |
| OpenAlex | W2047675563 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
| References cited | 4 |
This article seeks to examine the changing sociopolitical profile of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) representatives in Bihar. It argues (a) that the political assertion of the upper backward caste-Yadavas, Koeris and Kurmis-in Bihar dates back to the pre-Mandal period; (b) that the OBCs are not a homogeneous sociopolitical community, since they comprise both dominant and deprived castes; and (c) that the upper castes, despite losing political ground at the level of the Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha, have been able to retain their foothold at the grassroots level as demonstrated by their substantial representation in the PRI elections of 2001. This has significant implications for political economy in a period of democratic devolution and decentralised development. More importantly, it explains the violence-ridden politics of the state: besides social and economic disparities there is considerable mismatch between political dominance in the upper tiers and at the grassroots levels of Indian society
Caste · Democracy · Development economics · Dominance (genetics · Economics · Grassroots · Panchayati raj · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · State (computer science · Law · Politics and Conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Middle East · Public Administration · Social and Economic Development in India · South Asian Studies and Conflicts
| Unique citing works | 4 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,24 |
| Citation span | 2009 - 2025 (17) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 4 |