From 21 MLAs to Just One: Bihar's Kayastha Political Influence Hits Historic Low

Brief By Newsbrief / 6:07 PM on 05 Aug 2026

The BJP's defeat in the Bankipur Assembly bypoll has reignited debate over the declining political representation of the Kayastha community in Bihar. With BJP candidate Neeraj Sinha losing the seat, JD(U) MLA Samriddh Verma from Sikta is now the only Kayastha representative in the 243-member Assembly. The community, which had 21 MLAs in Bihar's first Assembly in 1952, has witnessed a steady decline in legislative representation over the decades. Despite producing prominent leaders such as India's first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad and former Bihar Chief Ministers K.B. Sahay and Mahamaya Prasad Sinha, the community's electoral presence has diminished significantly. Political analysts attribute the decline to changing caste equations, evolving electoral alliances and shifting voter priorities. The latest bypoll result has renewed discussions on whether Bihar's traditional upper-caste political landscape is undergoing a lasting transformation.