Kiroris lose sway over Meena, Gujjar communities

It seems to be the end of the road for two famous Kiroris of Rajasthan who claimed to have championed the cause of the Gujjars and Meenas in the state.

Col Kirori Singh Bainsla rose to prominence with his violent agitation during the previous BJP government led by Vasundhara Raje. He demanded reservation to the Gujjars, belonging to OBC , under ST category. Kirorial Meena, on the other hand, has been championing the cause of the Meenas, an ST community in Rajasthan, after he parted ways with the BJP over differences with Raje.

The two Kiroris held such  sway over their communities that the state governments came down on its knees to keep them in good humour. The result of the latest Assembly elections have made them politically irrelevant with little hold over their community. There are also allegations that they pursue their personal agenda at the cost of the community.

Bainsla, who raised many eyebrows by unsuccessfully contesting on BJP ticket in 2009 parliament elections, has repeated his mistake by coming out openly in support of  the Congress this time by going against the wishes of the community. Bainsla, who became the undisputed leader of Gujjar community after the reservation stir, has now become an eyesore for majority of Gujjars who questioned his decision to line with the Congress. Gujjar leaders now disown him as he has become a huge embarrassment to the community due to his lack of political insight and indiscretion. “Anybody  with some political insight knew that the Congress stock was down in Rajasthan. By openly supporting the Congress, he has spoiled the community’s cause” said a leader.

“Bainsla has developed a habit of negotiating with political parties for personal gains and misguided his own people,” says Bachu Singh Bainsla, national general secretary and media in-charge of All India Gurjar Mahasabha. The community has lost 70 people in their stir for reservation but nothing concrete has materialised so far except an additional one percent reservation under special backward castes (SBCs).

“The community will decide its future course of action after consulting all leaders. Agitation for reservation will continue without Bainsla,” said Roop Singh, national spokesperson of Gujjar agitation.
 
The other Kirori, self anointed well-wisher of Meena community, is no more the favourite of the Meenas. He is fast losing his popularity in the community and the Assembly election results clearly indicate it. The Meenas, who generally vote for the community leaders irrespective of party lines, found that many of their community leaders contested on both the party tickets were made to bite the dust by the machinations of Kirorial. Kirorilal, currently an Independent MP from Dausa, fielded candidates under the banner National Peoples Party of P A Sangma, hoping to became the king maker.

He  himself  contested  from two seats from the Meena strong holds of Sawai Madhopur and Lalsot. In Sawai Madopur, he was defeated by BJP candidate princesses Diya Kumari of Jaipur while in Lalsot he saved his skin by just 491 votes beating Congress minister and fellow Meena, Parsadilal. His party managed just 4 seats.