Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje’s loss is fast turning out to be a gain for her Uttar Pradesh counterpart Mayawati. After announcing that they would boycott the BJP during the forthcoming Assembly elections in Rajasthan, a section of the Gurjjars who are demanding ST status have now said that they would be backing the BSP.

Announcing their support to Mayawati’s party, expelled BJP MLA Prahlad Gunjal and suspended MLA Attarsingh Bhadana said the community has been left with little choice but to support the BSP.

“We have discussed our demand of reservation with all parties, be it the Congress, Samajwadi Party or BSP. Discussions with Mayawati seemed the most promising and hence, we have now decided to support the BSP,” Gunjal told The Indian Express.

Senior Gurjjar leaders had recently held discussions with former Rajasthan chief minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, Rajasthan PCC president C P Joshi, Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati. While other parties extended support, the Congress had refused, saying it was a constitutional matter. “It was only the BSP which talked about taking some action,” Gunjal said.

Sources close to Gunjal and Bhadana said the two are likely to join the BSP officially in May in the presence of Mayawati. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP chief is expected to be in Rajasthan to participate in a programme to mark the first anniversary of the Gurjjar agitation.

The Gurjjar support would be a big boost for the BSP, which has been trying to strengthen its roots in Rajasthan. For six months now, Mayawati has been working to popularise her concept of social engineering across the state and, during a recent rally in Jaipur, she had assured the Gurjjars special reservations if the BSP came to power.

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