Lucknow, 15 May (HS): The BJP has increased its attempts to pacify the Kshatriya community, with Home Minister Amit Shah attending discussions with community leaders. The attempts have produced mixed outcomes. Following days of meetings with Jaunpur's strongman, Dhananjay Singh, he declared his support for the BJP during a public gathering on Tuesday. Raghuraj Pratap Singh, commonly known as Raja Bhaiya, the heir of the former Kunda estate, has distanced himself from the party, despite efforts by party members to convince him, including visits from party candidate Vinod Sonkar and Muzaffarnagar MP Sanjeev Balyan on Tuesday.
Dhananjay Singh, who was recently jailed for seven years in an old case just after announcing his candidacy in Jaunpur, declared his support for the BJP during a public meeting, saying, I asked for opinions from my supporters. It has been determined that given the current circumstances, we should support the BJP. The country is in capable hands.”
Raja Bhaiya, on the other hand, looked plainly indifferent in seeing Sanjeev Balyan, who is facing considerable resistance from the local Kshatriya community in Muzaffarnagar over casteist claims. Hours after the meeting, Raja Bhaiya issued a statement saying, I am not supporting any party in the upcoming elections; the esteemed voters should vote for the party of their choice.
The Kshatriya community has grown increasingly dissatisfied with the BJP in many regions of the nation, fueled by Minister Parshottam Rupala's controversial statements and the rejection of a ticket to General (retd) VK Singh from Ghaziabad.
The limited number of tickets granted to community candidates, the Agniveer plan, the rejection of EWS relaxation, and historical distortions are also major sources of dissatisfaction.
Several seats in the previous four phases of the election have seen substantial opposition from the community, including traditionally 'safe' districts such as Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad, where large mahapanchayats voted against the party. Community leaders claim that efforts to placate certain leaders will have little influence on the ground because none of the community's demands have been met so far.
The BJP failed to replace Rupala and provided inadequate representation for the group, at least in comparison to the 2014 elections. Rakesh Singh Raghuvanshi, President of the Shri Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena in Uttar Pradesh, has alleged that the party is appeasing and offering tickets to candidates who are actively involved in distorting Kshatriya heritage.
Hindusthan Samachar/Abhishek Awasthi/Manoj