Two decades after his landmark victory over Parshottam Rupala in the 2022 assembly polls from Amreli, Congress leader Paresh Dhanani is poised to challenge the BJP stalwart in the saffron stronghold of Rajkot, where Rupala is facing a backlash from Kshatriyas over his recent contentious comments on oppressive maharajas during British rule.
The decision for Dhanani to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Rajkot was reached during a meeting Tuesday in Amreli. Although he’s reluctant to contest the polls from any seat, Congress leaders proposed that Dhanani could pull out of the race if BJP were to withdraw Union minister Rupala’s candidature.
State Congress president Shaktisinh Gohil reiterated Dhanani’s stand, saying: “If Rupala steps down, Dhanani said some local candidate should be given the ticket.”
Hailing from the Leuva Patel community, Dhanani’s 2022 victory over Rupala, who belongs to the Kadva Patidar community, came amidst a massive Modi wave sweeping Gujarat. “Looking at the affection shown by the leadership and the party workers, I feel we should not remain silent (against Rupala) now,” Dhanani said.
Despite 69-year-old Rupala’s apology over his remarks, demonstrations by Rajputs continued across the state, as Karni Sena national president Raj Shekhawat urged community members to join the protest.
Shekhawat was detained on Tuesday outside Ahmedabad airport, ahead of a planned protest at BJP’s Gujarat headquarters in Gandhinagar, with the intention to set himself on fire. His detention prompted protests from Karni Sena activists, culminating in a tense situation when his turban fell during the scuffle with the police. Shekhawat, who was earlier with BJP, was released later in the evening.
Opinions among royal families across Saurashtra were divided on Rupala’s remarks. Mandhatasinh Jadeja from the erstwhile Rajkot princely state urged Kshatriyas to maintain discipline while protesting. “Leaders of our community and I asked him to rectify the mistake, and he (Rupala) apologised publicly,” he said.
In contrast, Maharani Priti Devi of Kutch censured Rupala’s remarks. “I support BJP but remarks against the community are not pardonable and I condemn them in the strongest words,” she said.
