There seems to be more reservation trouble headed Vasundhara Raje’s way. Even as the Gurjjars hold mahasabhas across the state threatening a larger agitation if they were not included in the ST category by September, other communities in the state too are eyeing the reservation pie.

Soon after the Gurjjar agitation, Chief Minister Raje’s office was flooded with demands for reservations from other communities. Sources in the CMO confirmed that at least 10 communities—several of whom share OBC status with the Gurjjars—have demanded inclusion in the ST category. “All of them have categorically mentioned that if Gurjjars get the ST status, they too will have to be given the same,” confirmed a senior officer.

The ones who have already put in their demand with the CM include Nayaks, Nais, Malis, Raibaris and Rawats. Most of the communities already have reservations and are considered SCs or OBCs. Similarly, the Yadhavs, Raibaris and Rawats have been demanding sub-categorisation within the OBC.

Two communities from the General Category—Brahmins and Rajputs—have also started demanding reservations. These two upper castes were earlier part of the Samajik Nyay Manch, which demanded that caste reservation be stopped in the state.

The Rajputs have started holding mahasabhas under the banner of the Sree Rajput Karni Sena formed some seven months back. “So what if we were rulers? If Raje, being the Maharani of Dholpur, can be a part of the OBC category (her husband is a Jat), why can’t we share the same status?” asks Lokendrasingh Kalvi, president of the Sena.

... contd.