Will people vote for development or caste?

I think this is a question in the minds of a lot of us? Some, who are externally observing the developments in the state and others who are going to be actual participants in the state upcoming elections and will decide the future of Bihar. All of us are waiting and watching what will win this time : Development or Caste system?

This is a question that also come to the mind after reading the article in the New York Times today : Turnaround of India State Could Serve as a Model

The article has highlighted some significant changes that have come to Bihar in the last 5 years. It has also pointed out the uncertainty in people's mind which has been well coined my Mr. Shailbal Gupta of the Asian Development Research Institute

Mr. Gupta has said in the article "Identity politics is strong, we hope that voters will choose development over caste. But in Bihar one never knows"

But there is also another important  area of concern which can change the course of Bihar's development. For the next stage of development besides industrialization , land reforms are required so that the poorest in the state also benefit. Will the rich landlords allow this? Will the rich landowners allow Nitish Kumar to come back as the Chief Minister again? Will they realize that they themselves will further prosper if the state develops, for which it is important that Nitish Kumar becomes the Chief Minister again. Or will they vote against Nitish Kumar and influence their people also not to vote for Nitish Kumar?

The third problem is the aspirations of many people within JD (U) itself. Will these people be ready to put their aspirations on hold for Bihar's growth. Or will they put their aspirations before anything else?  How will their actions affect the future of Bihar?

So many variables! Will Bihar continue to develop, grow and prosper?

Bihar has started becoming a role model

The Punjab government, impressed with Bihar's Super - 30 programme to train rural/economically weak aspirants for IITs, is set to replicate the model in Punjab.

While this was not so much of a government initiate, I still felt happy reading about this news as this is one of the first of the many times to come where Bihar will become a role model for other states to follow.

The detailed news can be read at Punjab to copy Bihar model for rural IIT aspirants