Gujjar community leader Kirori Singh Bainsla addressing the media in connection with his community's support to Congress in Jaipur (PTI Photo)
In a major political development in Rajasthan, Gujjar leader Colonel Kirori Singh Bainsla today announced that the socially backward caste will support the Congress in the upcoming assembly elections in the state, following Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's "promise of five per cent quota" for them.
"It was the Congress government which provided one per cent quota out of five per cent to the Gujjar community and set up the Devnarayan Board giving financial and other benefits to Gujjars, hence they would vote for Congress candidates," Mr Bainsla told reporters in Jaipur.
The announcement can be seen as a big setback for the BJP and a major shot in the arm for the Congress as the Gujjar community has five per cent vote share in the state. They, reportedly, play a decisive role in nine to 12 assembly seats in Rajasthan. The 200-member Rajasthan Assembly goes to polls on December 1.
Mr Bainsla's announcement comes on a day when the BJP, in their manifesto, also endorsed the Congress' promise of five per cent reservation for the Gujjars.
In the Assembly polls, the Congress has fielded 12 Gujjar candidates whereas the BJP gave tickets to 10 Gujjar persons.
"I met Vasundhara Raje and demanded four to five tickets for the community people, but she denied saying that candidates had already been finalised," he said.
Colonel Bainsla had contested the 2009 Lok Sabha elections as a BJP candidate.