Why BJP is facing Rajput anger in Gujarat over Parshottam Rupala's remarks

For the past one week, the Saurashtra region in Gujarat has been on the boil, with the BJP witnessing massive protests by the influential Rajput community over Union Minister Parshottam Rupala's remarks on Kshatriyas. Despite multiple apologies by Rupala, the BJP's candidate from Rajkot, the protests have refused to die down.

The streets of Rajkot have seen protesters from the community, which has always rallied behind the BJP in the state, carrying banners and shouting slogans demanding that Rupala be pulled out of the Lok Sabha race. Last week, three people were arrested for burning Rupala's effigy near his residence, where security has been increased.

The development, which has come just weeks ahead of Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat, has come as a fresh headache for the BJP in a state considered to be its bastion. The Rajputs comprise around 17% of the population in Gujarat and wield influence in parts of the Saurashtra-Kutch region.

WHAT IS THE CONTROVERSY ALL ABOUT?

Rajya Sabha MP Parshottam Rupala stoked a controversy on March 22 after he said at a Dalit event that the erstwhile 'maharajas' broke bread with the British and also married off their daughters to them. The video went viral, inviting the wrath of various Kshatriya organisations and the Rajputs, who are descendants of erstwhile 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.

As his remarks triggered a backlash, Rupala, who belongs to the upper-caste Kadva Patidar community, tendered an apology the next day. On March 29, Rupala again apologised in public with folded hands at a gathering of Rajput community leaders in Gondal town of Rajkot.

"I had already apologised, saying 'I never meant what I said'. It is a matter of great regret for me that such words came out of my mouth," PTI quoted Rupala as saying.

However, the apologies have failed to cut ice with the Rajputs, who have urged the BJP to withdraw Rupala's candidature or face defeat in the May 7 Lok Sabha election.

HOW HAVE THE RAJPUT COMMUNITY RESPONDED

The Rajput community members have refused to relent and intensified their protests. The community has vowed to burn Rupala's effigy in every district if he was not removed as Lok Sabha candidate.

The community has expressed apprehension that Rupala might speak the same language after the polls. However, the Rajput community leaders have clarified that they were only against Rupala and had no issues with the BJP replacing him with another Patidar candidate.

The BJP faced a major jolt on Saturday after Kshatriya community leader Raj Shekhawat resigned from the party. Shekhawat, who is also the president of a faction of the Karni Sena, claimed that the community was being neglected by the BJP in ticket distribution for the polls.

HOW WILL THE ROW IMPACT THE BJP IN GUJARAT POLLS?

The anger among the Rajputs has been simmering for some time now amid allegations that the community was being sidelined within the BJP. In the BJP, there are only five MLAs and one Rajya Sabha MP from the Rajput community from the Saurashtra region.

Gujarat's Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Union Ministers Mansukh Mandaviya and Rupala are from the Patidar community. In fact, the Gujarat Cabinet also lacks a notable Kshatriya face.

Political analysts have said the issue won't have a massive impact on the poll results. Analyst Ravindra Trivedi told PTI that the issue might cost the BJP only around 10,000 to 20,000 votes in Rajkot.

"There are nearly 50,000 Rajput voters in the Rajkot seat. Moreover, Congress has not even found a suitable candidate. In this situation, the stand taken by the Rajputs may not have any significant impact on the final poll result," Trivedi said.

Kshatriya leader Vasudevsinh Gohil, meanwhile, said the community was capable of changing the poll results.

"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 told PTI.