The impact of the twin Gurjjar agitations for Scheduled Tribe status in Rajasthan in May 2007 and May 2008, which claimed about 70 lives and injured several more in police firing, is bound to echo across at least 30 constituencies in the run-up to the state assembly polls on December 4. Both the BJP and Congress, recognising the political salience of this community, around seven per cent of the electorate, have given more tickets to Gurjjar candidates than ever before.

Following the agitations, the Gurjjar community is represented by three broad factions. The group led by Col Kirori Singh Bainsla is with the BJP, another faction is with the Congress and then there is a rebel Gurjjar faction formed after the expulsion of powerful Gurjjar community leader, Prahalad Gunjal, from the BJP in 2007.

While Bainsla pledged support to the BJP following the passing of a bill in the state assembly granting special reservation to Gurjjars, the Congress has the support of Gurjjars in Dausa and surrounding areas under the leadership of Congress MP Sachin Pilot. Gunjal, denied a ticket from the Congress and BJP, aims to play spoiler for both national parties.

Gurjjars have a presence in constituencies across the state, but senior community leaders claim that the Gurjjar vote is decisive in close to 30 of 200 constituencies across nine districts including Jaipur, Tonk, Dausa, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, Bharatpur, Dholpur and Boondi — in these constituencies, they number above 30,000. The Gurjjar vote completely influences seven constituencies where no candidate can win without the community’s support. The Gurjjar agitation has changed the electoral calculus for both national parties.

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