Rajasthan’s shifting politics, castes and communities

The notion that “Rajasthan never repeats a government” refers to the historical trend in Rajasthan politics where the state has rarely re-elected the same political party or alliance to power in consecutive state elections, over the last 30 years. The state has been following a five-year partychanging cycle for three decades.

This political rollercoaster started gaining speed in 1998 when the Congress party won the assembly elections, and Ashok Gehlot became the Chief Minister. However, the tables turned in 2003 when the BJP, led by Vasundhara Raje, overthrew Gehlot’s Congress government.

Raje held the position until 2008. Continuing the five-year-party-change cycle, this pattern has persisted in Rajasthan’s politics. Rajasthan’s diversity plays a massive role in this everchanging political drama. The state is vast, with a mix of communities and regions. No single party or alliance can consistently appeal to everyone, so voters often get dissatisfied with the ruling party after just one term and tend to vote for the opposition.

Caste and communitybased politics are also key players in the state. Different communities support the parties they believe will represent their interests best. This often results in a shift in power after every election. Communities like Rajputs, Jats, Gurjjars, Brahmins, Sindhi, Meena, Marwaris, and Jains all have their say in the state’s politics.

Jats and Rajputs, in particular, have had a significant impact. In the 2018 Assembly elections, constituencies dominated by Jats in northern Rajasthan played a vital role in the Congress party’s victory. Jat leaders like Parasram Maderna, Nathuram Mirdha, Ramniwas Mirdha, Kumbharam Arya, and Shishram Ola have been instrumental in shaping the state’s political landscape.

The Congress party’s Jat leadership and support have been crucial in their victory. On the other hand, several prominent Rajput leaders like Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Vasundhara Raje, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Jaswat Singh, and Rajendra Rathore have been shaping the BJP’s image in Rajasthan.

Vasundhara Raje served as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan for two terms and led the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to electoral victories. Rajput leaders of the BJP have also formed alliances with other communities to build broader political coalitions.

These alliances have influenced electoral outcomes, as was seen in the BJP’s victories under Vasundhara Raje’s leadership. While talking about the key battleground constituencies, every election the importance of the seats is shifted.

However, some constituencies have consistently been at the centre of the action. These include Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ajmer, Alwar, and Bharatpur. Political parties focus their efforts on these battlegrounds and field their strongest candidates in these areas to secure victory.