Rajkot- Amidst escalating tensions within Gujarat's political landscape, BJP candidate Parshottam Rupala from Rajkot filed his nomination papers on Tuesday following the Vijay Sankalp Rally in the city.
Seeking to rally support from the Kshatriya community, Rupala reiterated his call for cooperation during the event, marked by chants of "Ram-Ram" and "Bharat Mata ki Jai."
Expressing gratitude to the enthusiastic turnout at the rally, Rupala's nomination comes amidst mounting opposition nationwide due to controversial remarks targeting the Kshatriya community.
The Kshatriya community had organized a massive convention on Sunday, amplifying their demand for the BJP to revoke Rupala's candidature.
During the convention, Kshatriya leaders set a deadline for the BJP, giving them until April 19, the final day for filing nomination papers, to take action against Rupala. The convention marked a continuation of the protests against Rupala that have been ongoing since the last week of March.
Rajya Sabha MP Parshottam Rupala ignited a firestorm of controversy on March 22 during a Dalit event when he made inflammatory remarks suggesting that the 'Maharajas' had collaborated with the British, even going as far as marrying off their daughters to them. The video of his speech quickly went viral, drawing condemnation from various Kshatriya organizations and Rajputs, who are descendants of erstwhile royal or princely families in Saurashtra.
In his speech, Rupala purportedly stated, "... 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's comments incited widespread outrage and sparked a wave of criticism, particularly from Kshatriya and Rajput communities, who view his remarks as derogatory and offensive. The controversial nature of his statements has reignited tensions and intensified demands for accountability and retraction.
The demand for the cancellation of Rupala's ticket gained traction across the country, with talks between party leaders and community representatives failing to reach a resolution. The Kshatriya Samaj's compilation committee has unequivocally stated their stance, urging the BJP to revoke Rupala's candidacy.
In Rajkot's electoral arena, Rupala faces a formidable challenge from Congress heavyweight Paresh Dhanani, who previously defeated Rupala in 2002.
Despite Parshottam Rupala's apology, the Kshatriya community remains resolute in their demand for the BJP to revoke his candidacy. Ramutubha Jadeja, a core committee member of the community, reiterated their stance during a meeting on Sunday, emphasizing that Rupala's apology fell short of addressing their concerns
Members of the Rajput community have doubled down on their protests against Rupala, vowing to escalate their demonstrations if he is not removed as the Lok Sabha candidate. The community pledged to burn effigies of Rupala in every district as a sign of their discontent.
However, community leaders have clarified that their opposition is solely directed at Rupala, and they would welcome the BJP replacing him with another Patidar candidate.
On Tuesday, Rupala proceeded to formally file his nomination papers, marking a significant moment following a massive rally.
Addressing the rally, the leader said , " People have mutual enthusiasm, unwavering faith and a lot of enthusiasm towards Bharatiya Janata Party dedicated to public service and national service." Rupala made yet another appeal to the community to support the BJP “in the interest of the country” before he filed his nomination papers as the saffron party’s candidate for the Rajkot Lok Sabha seat.
The BJP received a significant setback when Kshatriya community leader Raj Shekhawat resigned from the party on Saturday. Shekhawat, also the president of a faction of the Karni Sena, cited neglect of the Kshatriya community in ticket distribution as the reason for his resignation.
The absence of notable Kshatriya representation in Gujarat's political arena has sparked debates and raised concerns among the community members. With Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Union Ministers Mansukh Mandaviya and Parshottam Rupala all hailing from the Patidar community, the Gujarat Cabinet lacks significant Kshatriya representation.
However, political analysts suggest that this issue might not significantly sway the election results. According to a PTI report, analyst Ravindra Trivedi, estimates that the controversy surrounding Parshottam Rupala may cost the BJP around 10,000 to 20,000 votes in Rajkot, it might not have a decisive impact.
Trivedi pointed out that there are approximately 50,000 Rajput voters in the Rajkot constituency, and the Congress has not fielded a strong candidate, potentially mitigating the impact of the Rajput community's stance.
On the other hand, Kshatriya leader Vasudevsinh Gohil express confidence in the community's ability to influence the election outcomes. With around 17 percent of the population in Gujarat being Kshatriyas and nearly three lakh Rajput voters in Rajkot district alone, Gohil believes that the community holds significant sway.
He emphasized the potential multiplier effect of Rajput support, asserting that one Rajput voter could influence the votes of ten others.
As the electoral landscape continues to evolve, the role of caste dynamics remains a crucial factor in Gujarat's political landscape, shaping voter sentiments and influencing electoral outcomes.
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