India, Oct. 26 -- The caste dynamics that have long defined Bihar's politics are once again steering the course of the electoral battlefield. Both major coalitions the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) have announced their candidates for the 121 Assembly seats going to polls in the first phase, meticulously balancing social representation while striving to expand their voter base across the state's diverse communities.

Both alliances have prioritized candidates from backward and most backward castes, though their approaches differ. The NDA has focused heavily on the Kurmi and Kushwaha communities, while the Grand Alliance has placed its strongest bet on the Yadavs. Meanwhile, the Jan Suraj front,...