In state 5, the ten largest ethnic groups in descending order are:
Chhetree
Magar
Tharu
Brahman – Hill
Musalman
Kami
Yadav
Damai/Dholi
Sarki
Chamar/Harijan/Ram
The ethnic majority in state 5 belongs to Chhetree. Tharus have staged several protests since several years with a demand for “Tharuwan” state. Interestingly, Tharus are divided between State 1, 2, 3, and 5 without a clear majority in either of the proposed states. This may be one reason for their dissent. Often, Chhetree and Brahmans are lumped into one group by indigenous group as the elite class of Nepal who have a disproportionately higher representation in higher echelons of the state services. If this allegation is true, Chhetree-Brahman unity will have a majority in this state.
Magar is also another major ethnic group in this state who does not have a clear majority. Magars may not see much in common with either Chhetree, Tharu or Brahman to easily form a unity. There is bound to be interesting powerplay and collusions among the four major ethnic groups in this state since each ethnic group has significant population but lack an overwhelming majority.
Several of the ethnic groups in state 5 fall under what was historically termed as “untouchables”. Even though at least three of the ten largest ethnic groups belong to them, their combined population is still smaller than the four major ethnic groups.