<p>The election in Rajasthan has mainly been a bipolar contest between the Congress and the BJP. <br /><br /></p>.<p>However this time tribal leader and independent Member of Parliament from Dausa, Dr Kirori Lal Meena-led the third front under the National People’s Party (NPP) of PA Sangma is poised to play an important role in the Assembly elections. <br /><br />He has vowed to teach both the Congress and BJP a lesson. The jury is still out whether he will play the role of a kingmaker or a spoilsport.<br /><br /> Showing his seriousness, Kirori had started an intense campaign in the tribal areas of Udaipur hiring a helicopter almost six months in advance to make common cause with the Bheel-Meena’s of Udaipur, which constitute a major chunk of ST seats, much to the surprise of political parties about the source of his money. <br /><br />Kirori belong to the advanced Meena tribe from Karouli-Dausa–Alwar belt which is different from the Bheel-Meena’s of Udaipur division, though both enjoying ST status. <br />Bheel-Meenas had traditionally supported the Congress and one of the most backward groups. <br /><br />His frequent sorties to Udaipur had antagonised the tribal leaders from the region most of them affiliated to the Congress. <br /><br />Meena, a medical doctor by profession, started his political innings as a BJP member but he quit the party in 2008 reportedly due to differences with Vasundhara Raje on the issue of reservation for Gujjars. <br /><br />Many contend that it was also a personality clash with Raje after Kirori demanding free hand in the distribution of party tickets for his supporters in the area of his influence.<br />He fell out with Raje and contested as an independent candidate in the 2008 Assembly elections apart from fielding many independent candidates including his wife Golma Devi and about half a dozen of them came out victorious. These independents later came handy for the Congress which was five short of an absolute majority. <br /><br />His illiterate wife, Golma Devi, became a minister in the Gehlot government. <br />He however later parted ways with Gehlot as well. <br /><br />Showing his confidence and influence in 2009, he contested for the Lok Sabha elections from Dausa and won.<br /><br />Voter base<br /><br />“His voter base is increasing every day,” is the contention of his ardent supporters in Dausa, which was once the constituency of late Rajesh Pilot. <br /><br />Meena, has vowed that neither Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot nor Vasundhara Raje will make it to the CM’s chair this time and he would play a decisive role in an assembly, which is purported to be hung after polls. <br /><br />He enjoys extensive support from the Meena community in Dausa belt. <br /><br />Kirori is waiting for the announcement of the candidates. He hopes many disgruntled leaders from Congress and BJP would join his party after the announcement of tickets.<br /> <br />“Just wait for a few more days,” he says with confidence. Already Sunil Bhargav, a BJP national executive member, has joined his party after differences with Raje alleging BJP of surrendering the party to Raje in the state. <br /><br />Political pundits believe that NPP can dent both the Congress and the BJP and in case of a hung Assembly he would turn out to be the king maker. <br /></p>
<p>The election in Rajasthan has mainly been a bipolar contest between the Congress and the BJP. <br /><br /></p>.<p>However this time tribal leader and independent Member of Parliament from Dausa, Dr Kirori Lal Meena-led the third front under the National People’s Party (NPP) of PA Sangma is poised to play an important role in the Assembly elections. <br /><br />He has vowed to teach both the Congress and BJP a lesson. The jury is still out whether he will play the role of a kingmaker or a spoilsport.<br /><br /> Showing his seriousness, Kirori had started an intense campaign in the tribal areas of Udaipur hiring a helicopter almost six months in advance to make common cause with the Bheel-Meena’s of Udaipur, which constitute a major chunk of ST seats, much to the surprise of political parties about the source of his money. <br /><br />Kirori belong to the advanced Meena tribe from Karouli-Dausa–Alwar belt which is different from the Bheel-Meena’s of Udaipur division, though both enjoying ST status. <br />Bheel-Meenas had traditionally supported the Congress and one of the most backward groups. <br /><br />His frequent sorties to Udaipur had antagonised the tribal leaders from the region most of them affiliated to the Congress. <br /><br />Meena, a medical doctor by profession, started his political innings as a BJP member but he quit the party in 2008 reportedly due to differences with Vasundhara Raje on the issue of reservation for Gujjars. <br /><br />Many contend that it was also a personality clash with Raje after Kirori demanding free hand in the distribution of party tickets for his supporters in the area of his influence.<br />He fell out with Raje and contested as an independent candidate in the 2008 Assembly elections apart from fielding many independent candidates including his wife Golma Devi and about half a dozen of them came out victorious. These independents later came handy for the Congress which was five short of an absolute majority. <br /><br />His illiterate wife, Golma Devi, became a minister in the Gehlot government. <br />He however later parted ways with Gehlot as well. <br /><br />Showing his confidence and influence in 2009, he contested for the Lok Sabha elections from Dausa and won.<br /><br />Voter base<br /><br />“His voter base is increasing every day,” is the contention of his ardent supporters in Dausa, which was once the constituency of late Rajesh Pilot. <br /><br />Meena, has vowed that neither Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot nor Vasundhara Raje will make it to the CM’s chair this time and he would play a decisive role in an assembly, which is purported to be hung after polls. <br /><br />He enjoys extensive support from the Meena community in Dausa belt. <br /><br />Kirori is waiting for the announcement of the candidates. He hopes many disgruntled leaders from Congress and BJP would join his party after the announcement of tickets.<br /> <br />“Just wait for a few more days,” he says with confidence. Already Sunil Bhargav, a BJP national executive member, has joined his party after differences with Raje alleging BJP of surrendering the party to Raje in the state. <br /><br />Political pundits believe that NPP can dent both the Congress and the BJP and in case of a hung Assembly he would turn out to be the king maker. <br /></p>
