Mithila’s Suri community intensifies demand for inclusion in EBCs

Madhubani: People from Suri community, a sub-caste of Vaishya in Mithilanchal region, have intensified their campaign demanding their inclusion in the Extremely Backward Class (EBCs) by the state govt. Community leaders such as BJP MLA Arun Shankar Prasad, former MLC Suman Kumar Mahaseth, divisional convener of a Suris' organisation, Prahahlad Purbey; a community leader from Rosera in Samastipur, Ramesh Gami, and others have already held meetings at Basopatti, Saharghat, Dhakjari, Rosera and other places, including Madhubani, urging people from the community to participate in large numbers in the Suri Maha Adhikar Sammelan to be held at Bapu Sabhagar in Patna on June 8.According to these leaders, the scheduled Sammelan is aimed at putting pressure on the state govt for addressing their demand, which could significantly influence the political landscape in the upcoming 2025 state assembly elections.The region covering Darbhanga, Samastipur, Madhubani, Supaul, Sheohar and Sitamarhi districts — also known as Mithilanchal comprises over 50 of Bihar's 243 assembly constituencies, a critical electoral battleground. The region is a stronghold of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), comprising BJP, JD(U) and other smaller parties. In the 2020 elections, the NDA performed well in these areas. Talking to this newspaper over phone on Wednesday, Arun Shankar Prasad, BJP MLA from Khajauli (Madhubani), said that when sub-castes like Teli, Halwai and others of the Vaishya community were included the EBC category in 2015, Suri (sub-caste) was left out. The present campaign is to rectify that anomaly, he added. As per the 2022 caste survey, the percentage of EBCs in Bihar's population is 36.01%. Suris, traditionally, have been BJP supporters and they feel their inclusion in the EBC category would grant them access to reservation benefits in education and jobs, particularly after the Union cabinet gave its assent for the caste census. Political observers believe if the demand is ignored by the state govt, caste equations may undergo a change in coming assembly elections. Though, traditionally with BJP-led NDA, majority of Suri community voters may shift towards the Mahagathbandhan or opt for caste-candidates even if not a winning horse in the coming assembly elections.