Rajasthan Polls: Why Gujjars Likely to Support Congress This Election

The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to win the support of influential Gujjar community — who, according to unofficial and rough estimate, account for seven to nine per cent of the state’s population — are playing a decisive role in at least 25 Assembly seats in Karauli, Dausa, Ajmer and Bharatpur districts. However, the community claims that it influences the outcome in over 60 Assembly constituencies.

The community — say political experts — have traditionally backed the BJP because of their rivalry with the Meena community, which has the ST status with over 500 IAS, IPS, and other white-collared job holders. Because the two communities always keep themselves at loggerheads, the Meenas keep themselves close to the Congress.

But, in a major political development this year, the community may back Congress, owing to the possibility of appointment of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Sachin Pilot to the post of the chief minister. Pilot belongs to the Gujjar community. The community leaders feel that if Sachin becomes the chief minister, he would fulfil the Congress’ “promise of 5% quota” for them.

“The Gujjars — who are a socially backward caste — are inclined towards the Congress because of obvious reasons,” said community leader Colonel Kirori Singh Bainsla.

When asked about the specific reasons behind their support, he dodged the question, saying, “In democracy, everyone is free to vote in favour of a candidate or a political party of his or her choice.”

However, those belonging to the community explained the reasons behind the decision. “It was the Congress government that gave us one per cent of five per cent reservation, and established the Devnarayan Board for giving financial and other benefits to Gujjars. Therefore, we have decided to vote in favour of Congress candidates,” they said.

This is being seen as a major setback for the BJP, and a big shot in the arm for the Congress. The 200-member Rajasthan Assembly goes to polls on December 7.

Gujjars have fought a long battle for more than 11 years for five per cent quota within the reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBC). Thirty-five people belonging to the community died in the stir during Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje’s previous term.

Initially, Gujjars were demanding their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category. Later, their demand witnessed a shift towards formation of a Special Backward Class (SBC) category. Now, they are demanding a sub-categorisation of OBCs, as they feel that dominant castes such as Jats and Yadavs corner the benefit of OBC reservation.

Bainsla, who led the quota agitation, contested the 2009 Lok Sabha election on BJP ticket from the Tonk-Sawai Madhopur seat, but lost to Namo Narain Meena of the Congress.

Shailendra Singh Dhabhai, general secretary of the Gujjar Aarakshan Sangharsh, said that the community is not being heard because of its “poor” representation in the government.

“We need to send more and more leaders from our community. Only then, we will be able to convince the powers, and ensure that our demands are met. The desire for political representation in proportion to our population is perfectly justified,” he told Newsclick.

Chief Minister Raje’s much-hyped “Gaurav Yatra” in August this year lost steam after the Gujjars threatened to disrupt it in the Bharatpur division. The Bharatpur region was dropped from the Yatra’s itinerary in view of the protests in several Assembly segments for quota and withdrawal of police cases against community members detained during the previous agitations.

Later, Gujjar activists staged a protest in Ajmer before a public rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October, demanding a meeting with him. When the protesters blocked the main road outside the Collectorate, and burnt tyres. The police had to resort to a lathi charge to disperse them.

Apart from Gujjars, other nomadic communities such as Gadariya, Raika, Gadia-Lohar and Banjara were also included in the “most backward” category, and were given reservation in December last year.