Rajput anger spills across constituencies

The simmering Rajput anger can be felt in full force in Gujarat where 26 constituencies will go to polls in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

A protest sabha was organised on May 1 in the Limbdi assembly constituency where over 30,000 Rajputs had gathered to protest against the anti-Rajput comments made by BJP heavyweight candidate Parshottam Rupala, known to be close to the prime minister; Rupala had muddied the waters by stating that Rajput rulers had collaborated with the British and that they were not averse to their women getting married to the British.

Rupala's remarks have snowballed into a major controversy across the three states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Several representatives of the Rajput community had demanded the withdrawal of his candidature from Rajkot but when this did not happen, protests erupted across Saurashtra.

The Rajputs were considered one of the loyal pillars of the BJP, who enabled the party to establish its hegemony across north India along with the Brahmin and Bania communities.

The situation has altered dramatically in the last few weeks and the community, which has a sizeable presence across these states, has sworn to boycott the elections rather than cast their vote in favour of the ruling dispensation.

Dr Mahesh Rajput, leader of Rajput community in Rajkot, seen as the epicentre of the movement, said, "Our women were so angry at Rupala's statement that they willing to commit were Jauhar (self-immolation). We had to come out and pacify them. A community which has made so many sacrifices for the nation is now being accused of being in league with the British."