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Electoral patterns and voting behavior of Bihar in Assembly elections from 2010 to 2020: a spatial analysis

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Abstract

The present research paper develops its theme with a special focus on Bihar State Assembly elections analysis. It concentrates on the social groups' electoral pattern and voting behavior in the Bihar election. It tried to formulate the specific voting design based on empirical electoral data favoring various political parties contesting the election. The issues entailed in the mobilization of the voters of Bihar has been critically examined through historical and social perspective. For this objective, the paper analyses the historical, cultural, religious, social, and other determinants that show the voting behavior of socially stratified voters of the Bihar state of India. Generally, the paper compares the electoral results, controlling factors, and social implications of Bihar's three consecutive assembly elections: 2010, 2015, and 2020 elections. This research paper is theoretical and utilizes the secondary electoral data derived from the Election Commission of India. The archival sources are other means that helped form arguments and articulation related to the electoral campaign and mass mobilization. The quantitative data are further represented through a visual diagram and a GIS-based electoral map. Interestingly, Bihar produces a specific political atmosphere where the quality of place assigns its unique identities. In the geo-cultural setting of Bihar, Caste plays a pivotal role in controlling electoral behavior. Though, Bihar's recent election of 2020 shows the re-emerging social issues like "class," sometimes" religion," and "Populism "in changing social dynamics, which occupy the central space overshadowing the identity of caste.

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Acknowledgements

This study would not have been possible without the cooperation and advice of my respected two of our best seniors and Dr. Motibur Rahaman Mostafijur Rahaman. I express my deep sense of gratitude to our esteemed senior, Juel Haque, for his valuable guidance, constructive criticism, and encouragement to complete this paper. I thank all the members and respondents of the political parties and Election Commission of India, and CSDS helped me collect valuable information. Finally, thank UGC for the financial support to complete my work. Therefore, for this research, compliance with ethical standards is not applicable

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  1. Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, UP, 202002, India

    Firoj Biswas

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Biswas, F. Electoral patterns and voting behavior of Bihar in Assembly elections from 2010 to 2020: a spatial analysis. GeoJournal 88, 655–689 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-022-10627-2

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