Vadgam/Radhanpur, Gujarat, Dec 3 (UNI) Two prominent caste leaders in Gujarat considered as game-changers in Gujarat politics incidentally share a similar tag too.
Both are being gradually described as ‘outsiders’ in their respective battle-fields – the assembly constituencies they are contesting. While Alpesh Thakor, who hails from Endla village in Ahmedabad district, is seeking his election from Radhanpur assembly segment – a known Thakor community citadel, Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani is in the fray from Vadgam reserved seat as an independent candidate.
Alpesh has formally joined Congress and is party’s official nominee but for reasons best known to 37-year-old Mevani has not formally joined Congress party.
For its part, the Congress has not fielded any candidate in Vadgam as a “value-based support” to Mr Mevani.
After decades of larger Hindu unity among citizenry in Gujarat, in the ultimate the caste politics seemed to have entered Gujarat. This could make things much tougher for the BJP -- which is in power in the state since 1995 except a brief spell of President’s Rule.
Those in the know of things also say that during and post-2002 anti-Muslim mayhem, the politics of religious polarizarion could unite the Hindus.
But in the run up to the 2017 assembly polls, three caste players have emerged -- one Ambedkarite Mr Mevani, one pro-Patidars Hardik Patel and another pro-Kshatriya leader Alpesh Thakor. Combined together they do threaten to add to the challenges of the BJP - which is still banking on Narendra Modi as a vote catcher but who is no longer an aspiring Chief Minister yet again
In Radhanpur, the BJP has fielded Lavingji Thakor, a former Congress leader who defected to the saffron party in August this year during the hyped Rajya Sabha election drama.
Lavingji has been part of Shankarsinh Vaghela’s camp and had once vacated Radhanpur seat for him — in 1996-97, when Vaghela won and went on to become Chief Minister.
The BJP workers in Radhanpur say – Alpesh will find it difficult to win as local Thakor population are not happy with him for openly embracing Congress.
Thakore Ramjibhai, a local resident, says, “Alpesh is facing revolt from Thakor community as he had promised to stay away from party politics himself. But today he is sitting on Congress lap, that’s sheer opportunism”.
Many other belonging to Thakor caste from the area share similar views.
One of them, Mohanbhai Thakor, a local serving Tehsildar says, “While Alpesh Thakore could mobilise Thakor community people but he faces a stiff fight as BJP has also fielded a Thakor.
Importantly, they say Alpesh is considered an outsider to the constituency.
For his part, Alpesh, however, denies the ‘outsider’ tag and tells people during campaign that “I was requested by people at least from nine assembly segments in North Gujarat to contest. This ‘outsider’ bogey is only political. People need me here because Thakor or Kashtriya conditions are worse in North Gujarat”.
More UNI DEVN AE 1506