JOIN USUnion Minister of State for Forest and Environment Namo Narayan Meena faces a litmus test on the Tonk-Sawai Madhopur seat in Rajasthan.
The former top cop is fighting the electoral war against BJP’s Colonel (retired) Kirori Singh Bainsla, the Gurjar leader who headed the Gurjar agitation in the state.
The hot contest gets more exciting with the entry of a Vakil, who is raising the voice against the Congress and BJP’s decision not to field a candidate from general category. “Na DG, na Colonel, keval seat chahiye general” (neither DG nor Colonel, what we want is a candidate belonging to general category) goes the slogan of BSP candidate Surendra Vyas.
He says he is simply voicing the agony of Tonk constituency which has turned into a “general” seat for the first time. Prior to delimitation, Tonk was reserved for SC, while Sawai Madhopur was reserved for ST, from where Namo Narain Meena made his maiden victory in the 2004 Lok Sabha election. Post-delimitation Tonk-Sawai Madhopur has become one seat for general candidates.
Union Minister Namo Narayan Meena should have contested from a reserved seat instead of blocking a “general” seat, most of the people agree with the BSP candidate’s advocacy. Meena reportedly used his clout to get ticket from Tonk-Sawai Madhopur to avoid contesting from Dausa where he would have been forced to lock horns with his known bete noire Kirori Lal Meena. But it seems he was destined to face at least one “Kirori” in the battle of ballot. Gurjar leader Col Kirori Singh Bainsla who joined the BJP in April, just a few days before the electioneering process was to start in the state was obviously the saffron party’s best choice against Meena.
With known adversaries Gurjar and Meena in the poll fray, all issues have taken a backseat in this constituency. No one seems to be talking of development, terrorism, recession or sugar prices. Only caste equations will cast the future of candidates here. The Colonel vows he has entered the fray to ensure social justice for his community, while Meena is trying his best to defend his community’s interests.
If one were to go by the Assembly results, Meena can feel complacent since the Congress had won seven of the eight segments in this constituency.
“But a silent anti-Meena wave is sweeping the constituency,” said Mohsin Rashid Khan. He said a lot of voters cutting across party line swant to end the Meena hegemony in the constituency. “If Namo Narain Meena wins for a second term, he would claim his candidature again and again, ruining prospects of general candidates in future as well,” Rajendra of Bharni village said.
Col Bainsla used his army skills to launch the Gurjar agitation with precision but he is finding little uncomfortable in the political field. His maiden victory will depend on general votes, especially Jats and Malis. The presence of the BSP will make a dent in the Congress and the BJP because Surendra Vyas being a Brahmin will lure general caste votes and also expects to get a good number of SC votes. A chunk of Muslim voters said to be somewhat unhappy with the Congress are likely to favour the BSP, Ashim said in Tonk. It is a crucial fight for both Meena and Bainsla. While the former is trying to retain his base in the constituency, the latter is hoping to crumble the Meena fortress to secure a bright future for his community.