The upcoming bypolls in Rajasthan on two Assembly constituencies — Todabhim and Salumber on November 7— is being anticipated as a litmus test for the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government which came to power last year. The polls will also help the ruling party gauge the sentiments of the Gurjjar community after the Rajasthan High Court stayed the implementation of quota granted to them by the state.

The Gurjjars hold the key to the ST-reserved Todabhim constituency and with three rival Meenas, Gurjjars’ arch rivals, in the poll fray, the Congress and the BJP have been pulling out all stops to get the support of the community.

Such is the polarisation between the Meenas and the Gurjjars in Todabhim that none of the three candidates, Ramesh Meena from the BJP, Shiv Dayal Meena from the Congress and a powerful Independent P R Meena, have dared to step into the Gurjjar bastions to campaign. In an attempt to swing the Gurjjar vote their way, the Congress and the BJP have dispatched Ajmer MP Sachin Pilot and former chief minister Vasundhara Raje to Todabhim.

Addressing a public meeting at Kohili village, Pilot said, “The Congress government has worked for you and will remain in power in Rajasthan whether we win this seat or not. But we will be able to serve you better with an MLA from here.” He added that the Gurjjar reservation Bill held the utmost importance for the Congress government, which was trying its best to vacate the HC stay.

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