7. Caste Groups

Like religion, caste has been an important factor in Indian politics. The competitive politics in many states of the Indian Union is in fact the politics of caste rivalries: Brahmin versus Non-Brahmin in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, Rajput versus Jat in Rajasthan, Kamma versus Reddy in Andhra, Ahir versus Jat in Haryana, Baniya Brahmin versus Patidar in Gujarat. Kayastha versus

Rajput in Bihar, Nair versus Ezhava in Kerala and Lingayat versus Okkaliga in Karnataka3. Some of the caste-based organisations are:

(i) Nadar Caste Association in Tamil Nadu

(ii) Marwari Association

(iii) Harijan Sevak Sangh

(iv) Kshatriya Maha Sabha in Gujarat

(v) Vanniyakul Kshatriya Sangam

(vi) Kayastha Sabha