Caste and Religion 

    Politics is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the corporate, academic, and religious segments of society. Caste, religion and language plays a very significant role in Indian politics, which can be considered as theepitome of more ethnic and religious groups as compared to other countries of the world.They have become a party of identity politics.
1_ Caste :
A_ Definition of Caste :
   In contemporary Indian scenario, caste mobilisation has become an important element in determining Indian politics. 
   According to Risley Caste,  is a collection of families bearing a common name, claiming a common descent from a mythical ancestor, divine or human and professing to follow same hereditary calling and regarded by those who are competent to give an opinion as forming a single homogenous community. It is described as localized group having a traditional ssociation
based on one's birth in a caste, though at times associated with particular occupation .
    Caste, through a joint effort of its members to assert themselves, has presently intervened in both politics and administration mainly through franchise and institutions .
   Whether it is the factionalism of  political parties or the nomination of candidates and the mode of election campaign, most things can be explained through caste interests and caste balance. Ideally, caste and democratic political system signify opposite value systems. Caste is hierarchical. Status of an individual in caste-oriented social system is determined by birth.
   It has religious sanction by various holy texts, reinforced by priests and rituals. Conventionally, upper castes had been given certain privileges not only in religious area but also in economic,education and political spheres .
  There are three consequences of such interaction between caste associations and political parties.
* Caste members particularly poor and marginalized who were previously remained untouched by the political processes got politicized and began to participate in electoral politics with an expectation that their interests would be served.
* Caste members get split among various political parties weakening hold of the caste.
* Numerically large castes get representation in decisionmaking bodies and strength of the traditionally dominant castes get weaken. 
    This explains the rise of middle and backward caste representations in most of the state assemblies.
    The interest and mindfulness of various castes in politics can be understood by analysing four factors: interest of castes in politics, political knowledge and political awareness of castes, identification of castes with political parties, and influence of castes on political affairs.
B_ The Relationship Between Caste and Politics
    Rajni Kothari (1970) scrutinized the relationship between caste and politics through evaluating the issue as to what happens to political system because of the vote of castes.
    He found that three factors such as education,government patronage, and slowly expanding franchise have entered the caste system because of which caste system has come to affect democratic politics in the country. Economic opportunity, administrative patronage, and positions of power offered by the new institutions and the new leadership drew castes into politics .
2_ Religion :
A_ Definition of Religion :
    Religion is "a collection of belief systems or cultural systems that relate humanity to spirituality and moral values." Many religions may have organized behaviours, clergy, adherence or membership, holy places, and scriptures. 
    The practice of a religion may also include: 
     Rituals, sermons, sacrifices, festivals,funerary services, matrimonial service, meditation, prayer, music, art,dance,public service and other aspects of human culture. Religions may also contain mythology. It can be used to enhance oneself financially or spiritually. It can also be used to manipulate and control others for good or evil ends. It has been used as an effective political and commercial tool as evidenced by the many historic records of religious wars .