INTRODUCTION
Caste is termed as the most important political party of India. Casteism is the biggest politics of India. People of different castes vote for the candidates who belong to their caste or support a particular caste. There are many caste based political parties such as BSP, SP. India is bound by tradition and tradition society will take a long time to move out of.
ROLE OF CASTEISM :-
- CASTE BASED POLITICAL PARTIES :- To gain votes and secure power, the political parties tend to target one particular caste and form the caste based political parties to influence a particular section of society. For example, A.I.A.D.M.K in the south is a caste based political party which targets a particular section of people on the basis of caste.
- CASTE BASED PRESSURE GROUPS :- Not only political parties but pressure groups in India are also influenced by caste. They protect the interests of particular castes, some examples are Harijan Sevak Sangh, Scheduled Caste Federation, Non Scheduled Caste Federation,etc.
- CASTE BASED VIOLENCE :- People of higher Caste dominate the lower caste and try to set their Caste as best and Hugh in society due to which clashes occur between different Caste which further leads to violence and atrocities.
- CASTE AND VOTING BEHAVIOUR :- Caste is a major factor of voting in India. People tend to give votes to the party or candidate who belongs to their caste. Even the political parties use caste based slogans like 'Jaat ki beti Jaat ko,Jaat ka vote Jaat ko',
- CASTE AND CONSTITUTION :- Indian constitution has made special arrangements for lower caste people as chairman of our drafting committee , Dr.Bhimrao Ambekar himself saw atrocities due to caste. Articles like 15,16,17,46,330,332,334,338 and 340 are certain constitutional provisions for casteism in India.
- CASTE BASED RESERVATIONS :- To ensure equality and stop the discrimination against Scs and STs the Indian Constitution made provision of reservations of seats in Jobs and educational sector while also in politics for them.
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion it is clear that caste is an important player of Indian Politics. It impacts the politics from root to steam. Not only people who vote for their caste, but leaders and political parties also ask to vote on the basis of caste.