Bihar’s political and social landscape has been rocked by two controversies this December, with both caste identity and election integrity thrust into the spotlight. As the state grapples with questions of historical recognition and democratic process, the stakes for its leaders and communities could hardly be higher.
On December 17, 2025, the Bihar State Commission for Development of Upper Castes found itself at an impasse. After months of debate and three formal hearings, the panel decided to pass the buck to the state government, unable to reach consensus on whether official records and caste certificates should use the term "Bhumihar Brahmin" instead of the current "Bhumihar." This seemingly semantic issue has ignited passionate responses from leading Bhumihar organizations, who argue that the distinction is not just about nomenclature, but about constitutional rights and historical accuracy.
According to The Indian Express, Bhumihars are the third most populous upper caste in Bihar, accounting for 2.86% of the population—just behind Brahmins (3.65%) and Rajputs (3.45%). Since 2015, the Bihar government’s caste certificates have used the term "Bhumihar" exclusively. The most recent Bihar caste-based survey report from 2022–2023 also lists "Bhumihar" as one of seven upper castes among 215 recognized caste groups. However, the 1931 Census of India, a crucial historical reference point for many, clearly used the term "Bhumihar Brahmin," enumerating a population of 895,602 under that designation.
The controversy flared up when organizations such as the Bhagwan Parshuram Parishad wrote to the state government in September 2025, demanding the reinstatement of "Bhumihar Brahmin" in official documents. Their argument, as detailed in a letter by Anjani Kumar Benipuri, is rooted in historical precedent: "It is beyond our comprehension that when 1931 caste survey, revenue and land ownership records and historical references of use of ‘Bhumihar Brahmin’ is undisputed, how can state upper caste panel could ask state government to use ‘Bhumihar’. Delay in rectifying the gross error further raises our apprehensions regarding [the] attempt to curb constitutional rights of Bhumihar Brahmins."
But the commission itself, comprised of five members, was split. A source from the panel told The Indian Express: "There had been a division of votes among five members and we decided to avoid the situation and leave it to the General Administration Department, which may consult the legal department and experts." With the matter now back in government hands, Bhumihar organizations have threatened to intensify their protests if the "anomaly" is not corrected swiftly. Anjani Kumar Benipuri made their position clear: "Our protest will continue. It’s surprising that the panel suggested the incorrect change is refusing to correct its own mistakes. Associations of our caste would soon meet and plan sustained protests at legal and other levels."
Meanwhile, just as the debate over caste terminology was heating up, another controversy erupted—this time over the integrity of Bihar’s elections. On December 19, 2025, a video featuring Union Minister and former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi went viral, triggering a storm of accusations and counter-accusations. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) claimed that the video showed Manjhi openly admitting to rigging the 2020 Bihar assembly election with the assistance of the then district magistrate, Abhishek Singh.
In the video, Manjhi is allegedly heard saying he was trailing by 2,700 votes in the Tikri seat in Gaya in 2020 but ended up winning with the help of the district magistrate. He also reportedly mentioned that in the most recent election, he lost the seat by 1,600 votes, and the same officer—now posted in Tripura—called to ask what went wrong. The RJD seized on the video, accusing Manjhi of exposing "the royal formula for winning elections through rigging the results, machinery, and foul play." The party also lambasted the Election Commission for its perceived inaction, questioning, "Where are the corrupt election commissioners and the Election Commission now? Is this what democracy looks like? ...How long will you keep winning fake elections with the help of corrupt officers' dark deeds?"
Manjhi, for his part, has categorically denied the allegations. He insists that the video was tampered with by his political opponents in an attempt to defame him. In a statement posted on social media, Manjhi declared, "Some people tampered with one of my videos to make it viral, believing that they could defame the son of Musahar (a caste). I want to tell such people that no one can either insult the son of a Musahar or fool him." He added pointedly, "Those who spit at the sky, you are forgetting that the spit will fall back on your own face. Now, Manjhi is a brand and is no longer afraid of anyone."
The controversy has further inflamed Bihar’s already tense political climate. The RJD, along with its ally Congress, has long accused the BJP and the Election Commission of facilitating "vote theft." Congress leader Rahul Gandhi even led a statewide "Voter Adhikar" (Voter Rights) rally ahead of the November 2025 state elections, underscoring the opposition’s focus on electoral transparency. Manjhi’s party, the Hindustani Awam Morcha, managed to win five seats in those elections and remains a part of the ruling coalition with the BJP and Nitish Kumar’s JDU.
For many observers, the twin controversies—one about the recognition of caste identity, the other about the sanctity of the vote—speak to deeper tensions in Bihar’s social and political fabric. The struggle over the "Bhumihar Brahmin" designation is not just a battle over words, but a fight for historical legitimacy and perceived social status, with implications for access to resources and representation. Meanwhile, the allegations of election rigging, whether substantiated or not, threaten to erode public trust in democratic institutions at a time when faith in the system is already fragile.
What comes next? For the Bhumihar organizations, all eyes are on the General Administration Department, which now faces the unenviable task of navigating legal, historical, and political complexities to arrive at a decision that will satisfy both the letter of the law and the sentiments of the community. For Bihar’s political parties, the fallout from the Manjhi video will likely linger, with opposition groups seizing every opportunity to question the legitimacy of the ruling coalition and the integrity of the electoral process.
In a state where identity and power are so deeply entwined, these disputes are more than mere headlines—they are the latest chapters in Bihar’s ongoing story of democracy, representation, and the quest for justice. As the government weighs its next moves and political rivals sharpen their rhetoric, the people of Bihar watch closely, knowing that the outcome could shape their future in ways both subtle and profound.
