Editing Begusarai (section)

==Government and politics==
Begusarai has a rich and complex political history that has been shaped by caste dynamics, the rise of communist ideologies, and the growing influence of national parties like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Its political landscape reflects a combination of class struggles, ideological shifts, and the influence of powerful caste groups, especially the Bhumihars.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxforduniversitypress.com|title=The Political Economy of Caste in Bihar|author=Singh, R. (2000)}}</ref>

The political structure of Begusarai, like much of Bihar, has been deeply influenced by caste. In the early 20th century, the Bhumihar community—traditionally landowners and holders of political power—dominated the region.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxforduniversitypress.com|title=The Political Economy of Caste in Bihar|author=Singh, R. (2000)}}</ref>

Being one of the dominant castes in Bihar, the Bhumihars were crucial in local political affairs, controlling much of the land and thus influencing economic and political decisions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.patnauniversitypress.com|title=Bihar: Politics and Change|author=Jha, A. (2018)}}</ref> Their influence extended through their support for moderate political factions, including the Congress Party and later the JD(U), which focused on development and governance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.patnauniversitypress.com|title=Bihar: Politics and Change|author=Jha, A. (2018)}}</ref>

Caste, however, did not remain a static force. As Bihar moved through post-independence phases, political power began to shift toward more organized caste-based parties, with backward castes and Dalits increasingly finding their political voice.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.journalofindianpolitics.com|title=Communist Legacy and the BJP's Rise in Begusarai|author=Tripathi, P. (2020)}}</ref> The Bhumihars, while still influential, had to navigate a more complex political system, especially as the region's working-class population began to seek greater representation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.journalofindianpolitics.com|title=Communist Legacy and the BJP's Rise in Begusarai|author=Tripathi, P. (2020)}}</ref>

Begusarai became a stronghold for the Communist Party of India [CPI] during the 1970s and 1980s, a period when leftist ideologies found resonance with the region’s agrarian population.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.epw.in|title=The Rise of Communism in Bihar|author=Kumar, S. (2019)}}</ref> The CPI capitalized on the discontent among landless peasants and the rural poor, offering an alternative to the established land-owning elites.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.epw.in|title=The Rise of Communism in Bihar|author=Kumar, S. (2019)}}</ref> The communists advocated for land reforms and social justice, aiming to redistribute land and wealth.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxforduniversitypress.com|title=The Political Economy of Caste in Bihar|author=Singh, R. (2000)}}</ref>

This appeal to the working class posed a challenge to the traditional power structures, which included the Bhumihars.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.patnauniversitypress.com|title=Bihar: Politics and Change|author=Jha, A. (2018)}}</ref> Despite the CPI’s grassroots support among the poor and landless, the Bhumihars, as large landowners, often found themselves at odds with the party’s revolutionary stance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxforduniversitypress.com|title=The Political Economy of Caste in Bihar|author=Singh, R. (2000)}}</ref> However, their influence meant that they could sometimes negotiate with or adapt to changing political winds, even in a district dominated by leftist ideologies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxforduniversitypress.com|title=The Political Economy of Caste in Bihar|author=Singh, R. (2000)}}</ref>

In the late 1990s and 2000s, Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] became a dominant force in Bihar, including Begusarai. Nitish Kumar’s rise coincided with a desire for political stability and development, which resonated with both urban and rural voters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.patnauniversitypress.com|title=Bihar: Politics and Change|author=Jha, A. (2018)}}</ref> JD(U)’s broader appeal to various caste groups, including backward castes, Dalits, and even some upper-caste groups like the Bhumihars, allowed the party to maintain a significant presence in the region.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxforduniversitypress.com|title=The Political Economy of Caste in Bihar|author=Singh, R. (2000)}}</ref>

However, even as Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) presented itself as a party focused on governance and development, caste-based politics still played a crucial role.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.journalofindianpolitics.com|title=Communist Legacy and the BJP's Rise in Begusarai|author=Tripathi, P. (2020)}}</ref> The Bhumihars, while often aligned with JD(U), had their own interests that they balanced against the promises of the party.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.journalofindianpolitics.com|title=Communist Legacy and the BJP's Rise in Begusarai|author=Tripathi, P. (2020)}}</ref> As a result, the region saw a complex political landscape where caste and ideology were constantly in flux, with different groups maneuvering to secure their influence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.journalofindianpolitics.com|title=Communist Legacy and the BJP's Rise in Begusarai|author=Tripathi, P. (2020)}}</ref>

The 2010s brought about a major shift in Begusarai’s political environment with the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which capitalized on the growing influence of Hindu nationalism and the appeal of Narendra Modi’s leadership.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.epw.in|title=The Rise of Communism in Bihar|author=Kumar, S. (2019)}}</ref> In Begusarai, the BJP's message resonated especially with the upper castes, including the Bhumihars, who found its focus on national security and economic development appealing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxforduniversitypress.com|title=The Political Economy of Caste in Bihar|author=Singh, R. (2000)}}</ref> The BJP, drawing on both Hindu identity politics and promises of economic growth, successfully attracted significant support in the region, marking the decline of the CPI and the rise of right-wing politics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxforduniversitypress.com|title=The Political Economy of Caste in Bihar|author=Singh, R. (2000)}}</ref>

For the Bhumihars, who have historically been a key part of Bihar's political establishment, the BJP represented a new direction in alignment with their values.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.patnauniversitypress.com|title=Bihar: Politics and Change|author=Jha, A. (2018)}}</ref> While still politically strategic, the Bhumihars now found themselves not only aligned with regional parties like JD(U) but also more prominently with national forces like the BJP.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.patnauniversitypress.com|title=Bihar: Politics and Change|author=Jha, A. (2018)}}</ref> This shift showed the increasing role that caste politics still played, with the BJP drawing on its pro-Hindu, pro-development platform to garner support across a range of caste groups.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.journalofindianpolitics.com|title=Communist Legacy and the BJP's Rise in Begusarai|author=Tripathi, P. (2020)}}</ref>

The political history of Begusarai is a reflection of Bihar’s broader political shifts, particularly in terms of caste-based power dynamics, the rise of left-wing politics, and the eventual prominence of Hindu nationalism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxforduniversitypress.com|title=The Political Economy of Caste in Bihar|author=Singh, R. (2000)}}</ref> Over the decades, the Bhumihars have remained a central force, navigating the complex interplay between land ownership, political affiliation, and social standing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.patnauniversitypress.com|title=Bihar: Politics and Change|author=Jha, A. (2018)}}</ref> From their historic dominance to their more recent alliance with national parties like the BJP, the Bhumihars’ role in shaping Begusarai’s political landscape cannot be understated.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.patnauniversitypress.com|title=Bihar: Politics and Change|author=Jha, A. (2018)}}</ref>

Today, Begusarai’s politics is a blend of caste-based calculations and national ideological shifts, with the Bhumihars continuing to play an essential role in determining electoral outcomes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.journalofindianpolitics.com|title=Communist Legacy and the BJP's Rise in Begusarai|author=Tripathi, P. (2020)}}</ref> The rise of the BJP has added a new dimension to the region's politics, but the influence of caste and the legacy of earlier political movements remain deeply embedded in the district’s political fabric.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxforduniversitypress.com|title=The Political Economy of Caste in Bihar|author=Singh, R. (2000)}}</ref>