In Rajasthan, BJP faces wrath of Rajput community’s anger over Anandpal ‘fake’ encounter

In Rajasthan, elections for the Legislative Assembly are just three days away and if certain reports are to be believed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has narrowed down the gap with the Congress, which at one point was looking way too above par against the saffron party. And most of the credit for that goes to none other than but BJP’s ‘saviour’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, despite the improved chances, Vasundhara Raje has no strong reason not to celebrate about it yet as the party is likely to face the wrath of the Rajput community’s anger in Rajasthan.

The two factions of Rajput community - the Ravana Rajput and the Rajput – have joined hands for a single mission – oust the “arrogant” Vasundhara government. Rajputs – a warrior community that is often considered as BJP’s traditional voters – are miffed with Raje over the encounter of notorious gangster Anandpal Singh.

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The Rajputs believe that Anandpal - a history-sheeter with several cases of murder, dacoity and kidnapping against him – was willing to surrender but the Raje government got him “killed in a fake encounter.”

"We have realised the BJP has been working against the Rajput community. There have been several issues including the encounter of Anandpal Singh, the Chatur Singh encounter and the Padmaavat issue which has led to bad blood between the BJP and Rajputs. We have realised that kamal ka phool hamari bhool (The lotus flower- BJP’s election symbol – was our mistake)," India Today quoted a member of Ravana Rajput community as saying.

The family of the slain gangster is also campaigning against the BJP. They have been using the slogan kamal ka phool is hamari bhool in their rallies to set the narrative against the ruling party. Anandpal’s daughter Yogita Singh and mother Nirmal Kanwar even addressed a public meeting for the Congress candidate from Sikar.

"Thirty-six communities in Rajasthan are working together to defeat the BJP. My father was killed in a fake encounter. There have been several issues over which these different communities in Rajasthan have been working to defeat the BJP. The response was good where ever we went to hold rallies and campaign against the BJP," Yogita said.

The gangster’s mother, who accompanied Yogita, termed his son’s encounter “fake” and vowed to oust the BJP from the state. “My son was killed in a fake encounter. I have been protesting, fighting, campaigning against the BJP to ensure justice,” she added.

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The elections for the 200-member Rajasthan Legislative Assembly are scheduled to be held on December 7. The counting of votes will take place on November 11. The BJP is facing a wave of anti-incumbency in the state, while the Congress is making all the possible attempts to return to power.