Rajkot Lok Sabha seat: Turns high-voltage battle
With the Lok Sabha seat in Surat declared uncontested, all eyes are now on the 25 out of 26 seats in Gujarat where voting is scheduled for May 7.
As candidates were announced and campaigning kicked off, one seat in particular drew significant attention due to a controversial statement made by BJP candidate Parshottam Rupala regarding the Kshatriya community. Despite efforts by the BJP to reconcile, the Kshatriya Samaj persisted in demanding a change of candidate, making the Rajkot seat the centre of attention during this election.
Congress's nominee and Caste dynamics
Amid the unrest within the Kshatriya community over Parshottam Rupala's candidacy, the Congress party fielded Paresh Dhanani for the Lok Sabha seat. Despite initial reluctance, Dhanani was persuaded by Congress leaders to contest, aligning himself with the sentiments of the Kshatriya community. As the battle for pride ensued, the Rajkot seat became a focal point in this Lok Sabha election.
Understanding Caste dynamics
To grasp the underlying dynamics of the Rajkot Lok Sabha seat, it's essential to delve into its caste composition. Dominated by the Leuva Patidar community, the seat sees a mix of various caste groups. Leuva Patidars constitute a significant portion, followed by Kadwa Patidars, Kolis, Muslims, Kshatriya-Rajputs, Dalits, Brahmins, Bharwad-Rabaris, and others.
Assembly seats and BJP's dominance
Examining the assembly seats within the Rajkot Lok Sabha constituency sheds light on BJP's stronghold. With the BJP holding all seven assembly seats — Tankara, Wankaner, Rajkot East, Rajkot West, Rajkot South, Rajkot Rural, and Jasdan — the party's dominance in the region is evident.
BJP's stronghold and past elections
Historically, the BJP has maintained a stronghold on the Rajkot Lok Sabha seat, winning it seven out of eight times in the past elections. Congress managed to secure victory only once, in 2009. With BJP's Mohan Kundaria winning by a significant margin in the last election, the party's grip on the seat remains firm.
Candidates in focus
BJP's candidate Parshottam Rupala, a seasoned politician and former minister, faces stiff competition from Congress's Paresh Dhanani, the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly. Dhanani, a three-time MLA, has defeated Rupala once before, making this electoral battle even more intriguing.
With caste dynamics playing a crucial role and the Kshatriya community's opposition to Rupala's candidacy, the outcome of the polls remains uncertain.
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