Caste and Spending Power continue to remain strong motivators for selecting people in Politics & their elevation. Purist caste is preferred by National Parties and Caste equations are important. No wonder hence strong mandate is not obtained thus depending on alliances in many states. Of late, Purism is also being stressed by some dominant parties to the extent of excluding other people.
This is bane of India that even after 72 years, caste remains the only identity dependable in Indian Politics. Those who can swing caste votes stand automatically elevated. Hence communities across India group themselves as caste groups and self anoint them from oblivion to caste leaders providing them a platform to bargain with parties. Politicians count caste votes because many castes vote enmasse as single unit even today in many places across the country.
One would expect Urban India to be cosmopolitan in outlook but even here, it is caste that matters. There are many places where only one caste has held MP seat for Decades. There is no question of any other person winning the seat there.
