Caste(ing) ouch! Development takes a back seat

Contrary to their claims of contesting Ajmer by-elections on the issue of development, both Congress and BJP have been putting more emphasis on caste equations. Both the parties have been eyeing voters from castes other than their core vote bank.

The BJP clearly indicated that it was eyeing Jats, who are around 2.5 lakh, by fielding Ramswaroop Lamba who is the son of Sanwar Lal Jat whose death a few months ago necessitated by-election on this seat. The BJP is hoping to cash in on sympathy vote.

The ruling party is also trying hard to pacify Rajput community. While parliamentary affairs minister Rajendra Singh Rathore was made election in-charge, the party also managed to bring back Surendra Singh Shekhawat, former chairman of municipality who rebelled against the party in the municipal corporation elections.  

Rawat community is considered traditional BJP supporter. The party asked five-time MP from this seat Rasa Singh Rawat to become active in election campaign. Chief minister Vasundhara Raje even called him to Jaipur to have a word personally.

Moreover, former district president (rural) Navin Sharma’s suspension was revoked who had contested against the party in the last assembly election from Masuda. Similarly, former MLA Devi Shanker Bhutra who contested against the party from Beawar was also re-inducted into party.

Political experts also believe that nine Muslim candidates have entered into the fray to divide minority votes at the behest of a minister. Interestingly, all these candidates belong to different assembly segments.

Not just the BJP, but the Congress is also relying on caste management. The party fielded Raghu Sharma to make inroads into BJP’s traditional Brahmin vote base. The Congress considers that Muslims would vote for it still they are not taking any chance and hence the  young leader Wajid Cheeta was taken back into party. The Congress would be in a comfortable spot if it manages to rope in Rajputs and Brahmins along with its traditional Muslim vote bank.

Also, BJP has deployed MLAs to keep an eye on voters of every caste. Legislators from different castes have been sent to Ajmer constituency to stay in touch with voters of their respective communities and if they find it necessary tours of union and state ministers will be arranged.