Sawai Madhopur district, which has a long history of caste conflicts and was the site of the Gurjar quota agitations some years back, has undergone territorial pruning thrice since its formation in 1949. Yet the complexities of caste dynamics in the region, revolving around the longstanding strife between the Meenas and the Gurjars, still exist and impact electoral outcomes.The November 25 polls may be no different, say political observers.
It was in 1997 that Karauli district was carved out of this district when Baba Hansram Gurjar represented Sawai Madhopur in the assembly and BJP stalwart Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was the CM of Rajasthan. Earlier, Mahuwa was pulled out of it and made a part of Dausa district (created in April 1991) in 1992. The territory of Sawai Madhopur was further pruned when Gangapur City was carved out of it as a new district in August this year.
“Caste aggressiveness and land issues are dominant factors here. Families pass on the ownership of their properties to the next generation by word of mouth. Transfer of properties is not done on paper, and this causes disputes with kin and neighbours,” said Sawai Madhopur SP Harsh Vardhan.
Of the four assembly constituencies in the district, the most-hyped electoral battle is going to be for the Sawai Madhopur seat, which is witnessing a three-cornered fight this time. BJP has fielded sitting Rajya Sabha MP Kirori Lal Meena, 71, for this seat. By nominating the five-term MLA and two-term Lok Sabha MP, the saffron party has alienated Asha Meena, a ticket hopeful who was the party’s candidate in 2018. Having lost that poll by over 25,000 votes, she is now contesting as an independent. With Congress’s sitting MLA Danish Abrar in fray, the seat is all set for a triangular contest.
“What can I do if the party (BJP) did not field me? The people are with me, and the party workers want me to contest as an independent. I have all the communities’ support,” said Asha Meena.
Sawai Madhopur constituency is dominated by the Meenas, Muslims, Baniyas and Brahmins, while the Gurjars and the Malis also have a significant presence here. Diya Kumari, a member of the erstwhile Jaipur royal family, had won this seat in 2013, trouncing Kirori Lal Meena by 7,532 votes. Kirori had, however, won the second seat he had contested, Lalsot, as a National People’s Party (NPP) candidate the same year, beating Parsadi Lal Meena by just 491 votes.
“Asha Meena knows how to connect with the people. Had BJP allotted tickets based on the survey, it would have helped it. The party is deviating from its own principles. Abrar may gain as the Meenas’ votes will be divided,” said Vimlesh Shandilya, a VHP activist in the district.
In Bamanwas, reserved for the SCs, Congress has fielded its sitting MLA Indra Meena while BJP has repeated Rajendra Meena, its candidate in 2018. Indra had beaten an independent candidate.
In Khandar, sitting MLA Ashok Bairwa of Congress would face BJP’s Jitendar Kumar Ghotwal. In Gangapur City, Congress has fielded sitting MLA Ramesh Meena, who had won the seat as an independent in 2018 by beating BJP’s Mansingh Gurjar.
It was in 1997 that Karauli district was carved out of this district when Baba Hansram Gurjar represented Sawai Madhopur in the assembly and BJP stalwart Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was the CM of Rajasthan. Earlier, Mahuwa was pulled out of it and made a part of Dausa district (created in April 1991) in 1992. The territory of Sawai Madhopur was further pruned when Gangapur City was carved out of it as a new district in August this year.
“Caste aggressiveness and land issues are dominant factors here. Families pass on the ownership of their properties to the next generation by word of mouth. Transfer of properties is not done on paper, and this causes disputes with kin and neighbours,” said Sawai Madhopur SP Harsh Vardhan.
Of the four assembly constituencies in the district, the most-hyped electoral battle is going to be for the Sawai Madhopur seat, which is witnessing a three-cornered fight this time. BJP has fielded sitting Rajya Sabha MP Kirori Lal Meena, 71, for this seat. By nominating the five-term MLA and two-term Lok Sabha MP, the saffron party has alienated Asha Meena, a ticket hopeful who was the party’s candidate in 2018. Having lost that poll by over 25,000 votes, she is now contesting as an independent. With Congress’s sitting MLA Danish Abrar in fray, the seat is all set for a triangular contest.
“What can I do if the party (BJP) did not field me? The people are with me, and the party workers want me to contest as an independent. I have all the communities’ support,” said Asha Meena.
Sawai Madhopur constituency is dominated by the Meenas, Muslims, Baniyas and Brahmins, while the Gurjars and the Malis also have a significant presence here. Diya Kumari, a member of the erstwhile Jaipur royal family, had won this seat in 2013, trouncing Kirori Lal Meena by 7,532 votes. Kirori had, however, won the second seat he had contested, Lalsot, as a National People’s Party (NPP) candidate the same year, beating Parsadi Lal Meena by just 491 votes.
“Asha Meena knows how to connect with the people. Had BJP allotted tickets based on the survey, it would have helped it. The party is deviating from its own principles. Abrar may gain as the Meenas’ votes will be divided,” said Vimlesh Shandilya, a VHP activist in the district.
In Bamanwas, reserved for the SCs, Congress has fielded its sitting MLA Indra Meena while BJP has repeated Rajendra Meena, its candidate in 2018. Indra had beaten an independent candidate.
In Khandar, sitting MLA Ashok Bairwa of Congress would face BJP’s Jitendar Kumar Ghotwal. In Gangapur City, Congress has fielded sitting MLA Ramesh Meena, who had won the seat as an independent in 2018 by beating BJP’s Mansingh Gurjar.
