Why Are Rajputs in Western UP Urging Community Members Not to Vote for BJP?

Amid the ongoing Lok Sabha election, a series of caste panchayats have been held across western Uttar Pradesh by the Rajputs, also known as Thakurs. These panchayats have been held by the Thakurs against the BJP to mark their displeasure against the alleged marginalisation and ticket distribution. Rajput, considered among the BJP score voter base, has forced this African party to initiate a host of damage control measures. One of the latest mahapanchayats held at Dholana in Ghaziabad on April 18th. The group even passed a resolution calling upon the members of their community not to vote for the BJP. The Dholana segment topped the polling percentages among the five segments of Ghaziabad parliamentary constituency in 2019. Few weeks back on April 7th, the Rajputs had held a massive mahapanchayat in Saharanpur which created ruffles within the BJP in pan Uttar Pradesh. The Thakur’s, also known as Rajputs are not numerically significant. But after Muslims and Dalits, Rajput are the single largest community across western UP, especially concentrated in Ghaziabad, Saharanpur, Meerut, Kairana Gautam Budh Nagar, Muzaffarnagar, Bagpat and Aligarh. But this time the BJP hasn’t filled it in a Thakur candidate from these seats. The only exception was Thakur Sarvesh Singh from Moradabad, who died a day later after polling. Apart from the panchays, the BJP is also facing trouble from disgruntled Thakur Rajput leaders. While there is still no clarity on the nomination of controversial Kaiser Ganj MP Birj Bhushan Singh Saran, who is accused of sexually harassing female wrestlers, the public display of hostility between the former legislator and Rajput leader from Meerut Sangit Som in the sitting BJP MP in Muzaffarnagar, Sanjeev Balayan Ajat has provided more fuel to the dissatisfaction of Rajputs. A section of Rajputs belief that in 2022, Sanjeev Balyan played a role in ensuring the defeat of Sangeet Som. However, the point of trigger may be attributed to denial of ticket to VK Singh or Rajput and extended the ticket for the Ghaziabad Lok Sabha constituency to Atul Kumar Garg or Baniya. The Ghaziabad Lok Sabha seat is a traditional Rajput seat and replacing VK Singh with Atul Kumar Garg, A Baniya candidate, has not sat well with the community. Bhopendra Tomar, another Rajput community leader, accused Mahesh Sharma, the MP from Gautam Budh Nagar where Rajputs are highest in numbers of openly supporting history distortion by opening a museum on Samrat Mihir Bhog and attributing him to the Gujjar community. Not only Thakurs from all western Uttar Pradesh districts from to Ghaziabad panchayat, even Rajput delegations from Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh participated in the ongoing panchayats. Similarly, Rajput delegations from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan also took part in the Gujarat Thakur panchayat on April 14th. The outrage by Rajputs in Gujarat over Union Minister Parshottam Gopala’s controversial comments on Shatriyas entering relationship of Roti beti with the British also provided the flip to launch fresh agitation for self respect in Uttar Pradesh. Sensing the growing anger in parts of western Uttar Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party has deployed its dedicated teams in the Rajput dominated villages in Gautam Bhut Nagar Lok Sabha constituency As the society is said to be feeling ignored this time in terms of inadequate tickets given to them. The BJP last week inducted Samajwadi Party’s senior leader Madan Chauhan Rajput, a three time MLA and former minister in the UP government, into its party fold. Amid the ongoing election, the BJP is not able to control the Rajput anger. Then the saffron party’s vote share might fall in the Hindi belt states None.