Congress pins hopes on Jats in Rajasthan

There are approximately 65 lakh (12%) Jats in Rajasthan, making Jats the most populous caste in Rajasthan.

Congress party in Rajasthan is expecting change in the electoral behaviour of Jat community. The party leaders presume that majority of Jats could vote for the grand old party this time as opposed to their voting behaviour in the recent assembly and general elections where majority of Jats had voted for BJP.

There are approximately 65 lakh (means 12%) Jats in Rajasthan, making Jats the most populous caste in Rajasthan. The districts of Sikar, Jhunjhunu, and Churu in Shekhawati region are recognised for their dense Jat population.

Moreover, in Shekhawati region, Jat sentiment is largely seen to have gone against BJP after the saffron camp denied ticket to Rahul Kaswan.

Earlier, BJP had given ticket to paralympic gold medallist Devendra Jhajharia from Churu Lok Sabha seat in place of Rahul Kaswan who has been two-time MP from the seat. Churu has around 25 percent Jat voters.

A political analyst said, “Congress is expecting to perform well in the Shekhawati region as compared to recent elections. Jats had largely shifted its support to BJP during the last decade, as the saffron party swept the 2014 and 2019 general elections by winning all the 25 seats in the state. Now things could change because of the inclusion of Rashtra Loktantrik Party (headed by Jat leader Hanuman Beniwal) in the opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc.”

Moreover, the credit to woo Jats, according to party insiders, towards the opposition bloc in Rajasthan goes to former Congress CM Ashok Gehlot who had repeatedly reached out to high command and explained the better prospects of the grand old party by accommodating the regional RLP (which has an influence over Jats) in the alliance.

However the high command had shown lack of interest in partnering up with the RLP.

A party insider said, “The two parties were not able to close in on seat sharing deal, then Gehlot wanted to meet Kharge to convince him and make him realise the benefits of alliance. Eventually, his pursuit to bring RLP in alliance materialised and also proved to be successful in invoking Jats towards opposition bloc.”

A political analyst who is part of an independent survey said, “The upper limit in winning seats for Congress in Rajasthan is 8. However, there is still lack of clarity over seats which Congress thinks are safe seats. Congress thinks there are three safe seats. Which makes all other 5 seats as battlefield seats where only if the party works hard can reap the benefits. However it will be difficult for Congress to win all these eight seats even if they work hard, the reason being BJP has strategy in place even at local levels and they take electoral battles very seriously.

Moreover, Jats won’t vote for Congress in droves like Muslims do. We can say that more than 60 percent Jats will vote for opposition in the state. That still leaves chance for saffron camp to recalibrate their strategy on such seats.”