Over the past week, the Saurashtra region in Gujarat has been gripped by unrest, as protests from the influential Rajput community against Union Minister Parshottam Rupala”s remarks on Kshatriyas have escalated. Despite repeated apologies from Rupala, who is also the BJP”s candidate from Rajkot, the demonstrations show no signs of abating.
The streets of Rajkot have become the stage for protesters from the Rajput community, traditionally staunch supporters of the BJP in Gujarat, raising banners and chanting slogans demanding Rupala”s withdrawal from the Lok Sabha race. Last week, three people were arrested for burning Rupala”s effigy near his home, prompting heightened security measures in the area.
Just weeks ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, this development poses a challenge for the BJP in a state considered a stronghold for the party. The Rajputs, constituting approximately 17% of Gujarat”s population, hold sway in various pockets of the Saurashtra-Kutch region.
The controversy ignited on March 22 when Rajya Sabha MP Parshottam Rupala during an event said that the erstwhile maharajas had close ties with the British. The video clip quickly spread across social media, drawing ire from various Kshatriya organisations and the Rajput community, who trace their lineage to former royal or princely families in Saurashtra.
“Even kings and royals bowed down to the British, started family bonds with them, broke bread with them, and even married their daughters to them. But our Rukhi Samaj (a Dalit community) neither changed their religion nor established such ties though they were persecuted the most,” Rupala reportedly said.
Amid the backlash triggered by his remarks, Rupala, hailing from the upper-caste Kadva Patidar community, apologized to the community. On March 29, he publicly expressed regret once again, this time with folded hands, at a gathering of Rajput community leaders in Gondal town, Rajkot.
However, these apologies have failed to appease the Rajputs, who are adamant in their demand for the withdrawal of Rupala”s candidature by the BJP, warning of electoral consequences in the Lok Sabha election scheduled for May 7.
Members of the Rajput community have vowed to burn Rupala”s effigy in every district if he is not replaced as the Lok Sabha candidate. Rajput community leaders, however, clarified they are only opposing Rupala, indicating readiness to accept another Patidar candidate from the BJP. Gujarat BJP has so far ruled out replacing Rupala as a candidate.
Meanwhile, the BJP faced a setback when Kshatriya community leader Raj Shekhawat resigned from the party on Saturday. Shekhawat, also the president of a faction of the Karni Sena, alleged neglect of the community by the BJP in ticket distribution for the elections.
Tensions within the Rajput community have been brewing for some time, fueled by perceptions of neglect within the BJP. Only five MLAs and one Rajya Sabha MP hail from the Rajput community in the Saurashtra region.
Gujarat”s political landscape reflects a dominance of leaders from the Patidar community, including Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Union Ministers Mansukh Mandaviya and Rupala. The Gujarat Cabinet lacks representation from prominent Kshatriya figures.
Although some political analysts downplay the potential impact of the latest issue on election results, Kshatriya leader Vasudevsinh Gohil asserts the community”s capability to influence outcomes.
“We are 17 per cent of the population in Gujarat. In Rajkot district alone, there are nearly three lakh Rajput voters. Moreover, other communities are also in support of us. One Rajput can fetch 10 votes of others. Thus, we are capable of changing the poll results,” Gohil said.
