Manvendra is the son of senior leader Jaswant Singh and so the move is a big psychological dent for the BJP.
Manvendra Singh the BJP MLA of Sheo on Wednesday officially joined Congress in the presence of Rahul Gandhi. The move has unleashed a storm of speculations about the change this would effect in the politics of Western Rajasthan and whether this change would spill out across the state.
Manvendra shifting sides would effect new caste alignments that would help Congress establish a foothold in the area that was once its stronghold. Western Rajasthan was dominated by Congress right from the 1952 elections. The vote combination of Jats, Muslims and Meghwals was indefeatable. But the Jasol family with its personal goodwill had created a unique combination of Rajput, Muslim and Meghwals to ensure victory for BJP. With Manvendra crossing over Congress stands to gain the votes of these communities.
Further, a look at the poll statistics of Rajasthan shows that a shift of 2-3% votes can bring about a large change in number of seats. The shift of vote with Manvendra could prove to be of advantage to the Congress. Politics of Barmer revolves around oil it has made the dominant Jat community prosperous. Further reservation as OBC gave them share in power too. This made them a formidable force that as a flip side served to elinate other communities.
This also created scope for a Rajput leadership to emerge with public support. This makes Manvendra Singh extremely relevant in present times. Also, Manvendra fills up the vacumm of Rajput leader in the Congress. The party is presently lacking in terms of middle rung dependable leadership. He also helps Congress change its pro-Jat image. Manvendra shifting It is more of BJP’s loss than Congress’s gain. It can be seen as the last in the series of face-offs that BJP has been having with the Rajputs. The community has been upset over Anandpal Singh, Padmawat and more recently non elevation of Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. The first blow by the community was during the February by elections when it was a new consolidated voting by Rajputs against BJP. This loss of Rajput vote had cost BJP dearly in the February by elections.
Most importantly, Manvendra is the son of senior leader Jaswant Singh and so the move is a big psychological dent for the BJP.
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 "Manvendra Singh")
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