JioStar Vice Chairman Uday Shankar delivered a pointed critique of Bihar’s entrenched caste-based politics at NDTV’s Bihar Power Play event in Patna on Saturday, urging leaders to shift focus toward economic development ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections. Speaking in conversation with NDTV CEO and Editor-in-Chief Rahul Kanwal, Shankar, a former journalist and media industry veteran, rejected the stereotype that "Bihari means backward," asserting that the state’s people are inherently enterprising but have been held back by decades of divisive governance. He called for a decisive break from identity politics to unlock Bihar’s untapped potential in agriculture, industry, and human capital.

Shankar highlighted how political discourse in Bihar remains mired in caste equations, which he described as a deliberate strategy to keep voters fragmented. "There is a broader conspiracy that a person shouldn’t forget about his or her caste," he said, accusing leaders of perpetuating social divisions for electoral gain. He challenged winning candidates to make a post-election declaration ending caste rhetoric and instead prioritise five concrete policies to generate employment—such as infrastructure, education, agro-processing, and digital connectivity. His remarks come at a time when both the ruling NDA and the opposition Mahagathbandhan are intensifying caste-based mobilisation, with surveys and seat-sharing formulas dominating pre-poll narratives.

The media executive praised the resilience and ambition of Biharis, many of whom have excelled in business, technology, and public service across India and abroad, yet return to a home state lagging in per capita income and industrial growth. He argued that Bihar’s negative national image stems not from its people but from policy failures, including poor implementation of central schemes, corruption in welfare delivery, and the absence of a manufacturing ecosystem. Shankar’s comments echo growing calls from urban voters and the diaspora for governance centred on jobs, electricity, and law and order—issues that have overshadowed caste in recent youth surveys.

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With elections expected in late 2025, Shankar’s intervention adds weight to a rising demand for issue-based campaigning in one of India’s most politically influential states. As a neutral voice from the corporate and media sectors, his appeal resonates amid fatigue with traditional vote-bank strategies. Whether political parties heed the call remains uncertain, but events like Bihar Power Play signal a broader push to reframe the state’s future beyond identity, toward measurable progress in employment, infrastructure, and inclusive growth.

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