Unspoken Vote Bank: How ‘Upper Caste’ Hindus Shaped the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections

New Delhi: The 2024 Lok Sabha election results demonstrated a shift in a segment of the Dalit community towards the INDIA bloc, alongside robust support from Muslims and increased backing from OBCs in key states.

However, another significant consolidation observed in these elections was among the “upper caste” Hindu communities, traditionally supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who also firmly consolidated behind the saffron party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

While election analyses and political discourse frequently highlight the Muslim and Dalit “vote banks”, the consolidation of the “upper caste” Hindu voter base is often overlooked and not categorized similarly.

According to a detailed survey by CSDS-Lokniti published in The Hindu, 60% of upper caste voters supported the NDA — 53% specifically favored the BJP and 7% supported its allies, similar to figures from the 2019 general elections. This consolidation was particularly pronounced in certain states.

For example, in Uttar Pradesh, 79% of “upper caste” Hindus, including Brahmins and Rajputs, backed the NDA according to the CSDS-Lokniti survey. Similarly, in Madhya Pradesh, where the BJP swept all 25 seats, 72% of “upper caste” Hindus supported the party. In Rajasthan and Karnataka, the NDA garnered support from 65% and 71% of upper caste Hindus respectively.

Despite a decline in support in some states such as Bihar, where there was a 15% decrease compared to 2019 levels, the NDA still retained majority backing among “upper caste” Hindus. Even in states like Telangana and Punjab, where the BJP’s influence is less dominant, a significant percentage of “upper caste” Hindus supported the NDA.

In contrast, the voting patterns among other caste groups showed greater diversity. Dalit support for the NDA decreased by 5% compared to 2019, while OBCs exhibited varied preferences between “upper” and “lower” segments.

The term “vote bank” is commonly applied to Muslims and Dalits, reflecting their cohesive voting behaviors. In contrast, “upper caste” Hindus, despite their consolidated support for a particular party, are seldom described in similar terms in mainstream analyses.

Senior journalist Mohammad Ali, who writes on the politics in Uttar Pradesh, highlighted the difference in consolidation dynamics, noting that while Muslim voting patterns often respond to external pressures, the cohesion among “upper caste” Hindus tends to be driven by a desire to maintain their societal advantages. This divergence in perception underscores broader sociological dynamics shaping electoral outcomes in India.

Overall, the 2024 elections underscored varied voting patterns across different communities, with “upper caste” Hindus playing a significant role in the electoral landscape despite their less recognized status as a “vote bank” in political discourse.