Politics influences the caste system and caste identities in the following ways:
(i) Each caste group tries to become bigger by incorporating within it neighbouring castes or sub-castes which were earlier excluded from it.
(ii) In the age of coalition politics, various caste groups enter into a coalition with other castes or communities. They enter into a dialogue and negotiate in order to win the election. For example, in May 2002, BSP in UP entered into an agreement with BJP and formed a coalition government there.
(iii) ‘Backward’ and ‘forward’ caste groups : Now new caste groups known as ‘backward’ and ‘forward’ caste groups have emerged in political field.
Thus, caste plays different roles in politics.