It's interesting how after twenty long years under the stewardship of leaders who sang tunes of uplifting the downtrodden Dalits, Tejashwi Yadav of Bihar suddenly envisions reservations in the private sector as the beacon of development. A rather "convenient" enlightenment, one might say.

RJD, with all its pomp and fervor, parades the idea that introducing reservations in Bihar's private sector would be a boon for the Dalit community. But if we scratch just below the surface of these proclamations, the realization dawns that the actual impact on Bihar's formal private sector could be minuscule, if the idea even comes to fruition. Now, for those unfamiliar with Bihar's formal private sector – it comprises a handful of pharmaceutical firms, a smattering of IT hubs, and a few finance establishments. Unfortunately, these entities are still taking baby steps, with only a few showing any significant signs of becoming large-scale ventures.

The backdrop for this newfound commitment towards reservations in the private sector was set on the 15th of August 2023. On this day, Tejashwi Yadav, wearing the hat of Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister, graced a local Dalit community in Patna during an Independence Day function. With the attentive eyes and ears of the public as his audience, he proclaimed, “We want reservation in the private sector also, only then the people of the backward class will get developed.” It's hard not to note the irony here. After all, the RJD and the Yadav lineage have enjoyed the reins of Bihar for nearly two decades, casting their influential shadows over the state's politics for an astounding 32 years. And now, after all these years, they claim to have found the solution?

Digging deeper, Tejashwi's recent clamor for private sector reservations stems from the "supposedly legitimate" grounds of a caste-based census. In his speech, with confidence soaring high, he announced that Bihar will roll out these reservations as soon as the caste census reaches its conclusion. It's fascinating how the RJD, over the past several years, has been waving the flags of caste-based census and private sector reservations. These have suddenly emerged as their knight-in-shining-armor, a pivotal strategy for their much-touted campaign claiming economic justice for the Dalits. A bit too late in the day, isn't it?

It's essential to highlight that this isn't the first time young Tejashwi has been enthralled by the idea of reservations in Bihar's private sector. Casting our minds back to the tumultuous times leading up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, we find the same promise etched in the RJD's election manifesto. The party boldly promised reservations for SCs, STs, EBCs, and OBCs in the private sector and the loftier judiciary, all based on their population proportions. Not to forget, Tejashwi's echo of this demand was heard loud and clear in both 2021 and 2022, based on – you guessed it – the caste-based census.

Decoding the Myth of Private Sector Reservations in Bihar

One can't help but wonder if the current private sector in Bihar is substantial enough to make a difference with the new reservation policies. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), led by none other than Tejashwi Yadav, asserts that the private sector reservation policy in Bihar would be a game-changer for the Dalits. However, considering the scale and scope of Bihar's formal private sector, it seems more like wishful thinking.

Bihar's formal private sector, which boasts a few pharmaceutical companies, some budding IT centers, and limited finance houses, is still in its infancy. It's primarily comprised of a handful of noteworthy enterprises. When we stack it up against other states, Bihar’s formal private sector comes across as underwhelming in sheer numerical strength. Yet, it's important to note that despite its current state, Bihar bubbles with the potential for significant economic development.

Taking a closer look, the informal private sector in Bihar, featuring construction hubs, retail shops, dealerships, and distribution networks, dwarfs its formal counterpart. This sector provides livelihoods for a significant chunk of the OBC and SC communities. The real dilemma arises if these informal businesses are compelled to set aside a quota for jobs based on caste. After all, it's the skill that's paramount in these operations, not the caste lineage. This is where the reservation policy starts looking like a square peg in a round hole.

Further complicating matters, if large corporate entities and conglomerates in the formal private sector are mandated to uphold caste-based quotas, they might be forced to compromise on the quality of talent, essential for their specialized roles. Such a move could potentially deter investments and stifle growth within the formal private sector.

Truth be told, in a state like Bihar, where job roles aren’t necessarily determined by caste affiliations, this caste-based reservation in the private sector seems misplaced. Rather than addressing the underlying issues, politicians like Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav appear keener on political grandstanding.

The 10 Lakh Jobs Mirage

Turning the pages back to 2020, a bold proclamation was made by Tejashwi Yadav. He vowed to sanction a whopping 10 lakh jobs in his very first cabinet meeting, should he ascend to power. However, with the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) in alliance with the BJP, the elections favored the NDA, reinstating Nitish Kumar as the Chief Minister. Fast forward to 2022, and political tides shifted. Nitish Kumar parted ways with the BJP, paving the way for Tejashwi Yadav to step into the role of Deputy Chief Minister.

As expected, questions soon arose about Yadav's ambitious promise of 10 lakh jobs. But, rather than providing a clear roadmap, Yadav deftly sidestepped the issue in an exclusive interview with Zee News on 11th August 2022. Instead of addressing the job pledge, the RJD chief preferred to point fingers at the Central government, accusing them of ‘gobbling up job opportunities and shutting down factories’. While acknowledging unemployment as a nationwide challenge, he emphasized his commitment. However, he conveniently added a new clause, stating that the 10 lakh jobs would materialize only when he becomes the Chief Minister, not as a Deputy.

Following the long shadow of his father and mother, both former Chief Ministers, Yadav's insinuation is clear: true development in Bihar hinges on him acquiring the Chief Minister's chair. An interesting narrative, especially considering the years his family has already had at the helm.

Uttar Pradesh's Clear Stance on Private Sector Reservations Contrary to the waves Bihar's political scene seems to be riding on, its neighboring state Uttar Pradesh has showcased a rather contrasting approach. On 11th August 2023, Uttar Pradesh, under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, unequivocally declined the proposal to introduce reservations in private-sector jobs. This decision was in response to demands from opposition parties.

It's noteworthy that Yogi Adityanath's administration is determined to elevate Uttar Pradesh to a staggering economy of USD 1 trillion. Given that both Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have traditionally leaned on agriculture, any aspiration of such magnitude mandates boosting the industrial sector and exponentially amplifying employment avenues within the private domain.

Uttar Pradesh is ambitiously reaching out to global businesses and investments, offering them the fertile ground to establish and prosper. For any thriving industrial powerhouse, it's the caliber, proficiency, and aptitude of the workforce that are paramount, as opposed to reservations based on caste or region. Industries might shy away from a state that prioritizes political appeasement cloaked as social justice over genuine development. Recognizing this potential pitfall, the idea of reservations was nipped in the bud by Yogi Adityanath's government.

The Bihar Conundrum: Lessons to Learn and Paths to Tread If Bihar aspires to emulate the growth trajectory of Uttar Pradesh under Yogi Adityanath, a drastic re-evaluation of strategies is in order. Attracting private investment and tapping into the latent industrial potential requires more than just political posturing. Over the decades, the narrative of social justice in Bihar has been often hijacked for political gains, sidelining genuine development.

Lalu Prasad Yadav, who claims to champion the ideals of Ram Manohar Lohiya's socialism, in truth, presided over a period in Bihar's history often dubbed as 'Jungle Raj'. The 1990s, under his leadership, were marked by rampant lawlessness, where heinous crimes like extortion, kidnapping, and murders were the order of the day – and somewhat facetiously, this could be termed as the "private sector industries" of that era.

Tejashwi Yadav, in championing a caste-centric census and advocating reservations in the private sector, is inadvertently compounding the problem. While expanding the private sector undeniably holds the promise of eradicating poverty and unemployment in Bihar, there remains the colossal challenge of countering the setbacks introduced during the two-decade 'Jungle Raj' of RJD rule.

Bihar grapples with infrastructural inadequacies, particularly in roads, power, and telecommunication sectors. These shortcomings make it an uphill task for businesses to establish and thrive. Coupled with a large but under-skilled populace, and an overly bureaucratic regulatory ecosystem, Bihar becomes a challenging landscape for businesses. Add to it the state's history of political turmoil, and you have a climate that hardly instills confidence for long-term investment.

In such a backdrop, pushing for caste-based reservations in private jobs seems counterproductive. It risks alienating industries that might have considered Bihar as a potential destination. Tejashwi Yadav's demand, under the noble banner of serving the Dalits and marginalized communities, might in actuality be a strategy to keep his political relevance alive. It's an all-too-familiar story where the masses could be swayed for generations, reminiscent of the political ploys employed by his predecessors.