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Rawats oppose BJP's plan to field outsider from Rajsamand

JAIPUR: The Rawat community is up in arms against the BJP considering an outsider for the Rajsamand parliamentary seat. Hundreds of members from the Rawat community on Friday thronged the BJP office to meet party state president Madan Lal Saini and state election in-charge, Union minister Prakash Javadekar, over reports that the BJP is considering fielding an outsider for the Rajsamand seat, a constituency dominated by the community.



BJP’s sitting MP Hari Om Singh Rathore has already announced that he will not contest the forthcoming parliamentary election on health grounds. There were reports that former BJP MLA and member of erstwhile Jaipur royal family, Diya Kumari, is among the outsiders being considered for the seat.

The Rawat-Rajput Mahasangh state president Nand Kishore Singh, who was leading the protest, said, the organisation will not accept any outsider and sought ticket to a local and former MLA from Bhim, Hari Singh Rawat or any other local leader from the community. Hari Sigh Rawat, a three-time MLA, was defeated in the recent assembly elections from Bhim.

According to Nand Kishore Singh, Rawats constitute about 3.5 lakh of the voters in the constituency and it is the only seat where they have a decisive say and has traditionally been given to a member of the Rawat community, after delimitation of the constituencies. He said before delimitation, Ajmer seat was given to the Rawats and was represented by Rasa Singh Rawat , a five-time BJP MP.

Though Rawats’ concentration is more in Rajsamand, the community is spread over 12 assembly segments and could influence the outcome in other seats also. He said the community is mostly BJP supporters and if a member of the community is not given tickets, the BJP will have to pay a heavy price, said Narpat Singh Rawat, a member of Beawar Nagar Palika.

Rajender Singh, BJP Mandal president, Bhim, said, “We have apprised the leaders of our concern and they assured us that the sentiments of the people will be conveyed to the central leadership. We are expecting a positive outcome,” he said.

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