Social engineering: BJP, Cong vie for non-jat vote pie

CHANDIGARH: The ruling BJP in Haryana led by a non-jat chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has played to its strength by increasing the number of tickets to non-jat candidates. Surprisingly, the Congress has also marginally reduced the number of Jat candidates this time. Both the parties have tried to give a better representation to other castes as part of social engineering.

The saffron party has this time given 19 tickets to Jats as compared to 24 in the 2014 assembly polls. The BJP has fielded one Jat Sikh, nine Punjabis, eight from Vaish community, one Bishnoi, eight Brahmins, six Ahirs, six Gujjars, two Meos, six from the backward classes, four Rajputs, two Rors and 18 scheduled castes.

In 2014 polls, the BJP had given tickets to 24 Jats, one Jat Sikh, nine Punjabis, eight Vaish, nine Brahmins, six Ahirs, four Gujjars, two Meos, five from backward class, two Rors and three Rajputs. So this time, the BJP increased the number of tickets for Gujjars, Rajputs, Bishnois and backward classes at the cost of Jat candidates. The assembly seats where Jats were denied a ticket this time are Rai (gone to a Brahmin), Baroda (Brahmin), Jind (Punjabi), Hansi (Punjabi) and Nalwa (BC). In the 2014 assembly polls, only six Jat candidates from the BJP could make it Vidhan Sabha as the party rode to power on the basis of its penetration in the non-jat vote bank.

Caste arithmetic has remained a key feature in influencing the outcome of elections in Haryana. Political parties pick candidates keeping in mind the caste configurations. And this time it’s no different. The Congress which gave 28 tickets to Jats in 2014 assembly polls has also decreased their number to 26 this time.

It has given tickets to six Ahirs, six Gujjars, five from Vaish community, five Brahmins, four Punjabis, three Rajputs, six Muslims, three Jat Sikhs, two Bishnois, six from backward classes and 17 scheduled caste candidates. However not a single candidate from Ror community which has considerable influence in a number of northern Haryana seats was given a party ticket.

The Congress in 2014 had given tickets to 28 Jats, eight Punjabis, five from Vaish community, five Brahmins, three Jat Sikhs, four Muslims, eight Gujjars, six Ahirs, four from backward classes, one Rajput, one Ror and 17 from SCS.

While the Congress has increased the number of tickets for backward classes Rajputs and Bishnois, the grand old party has tactically reduced the number of tickets for Punjabis to four from eight in 2014. The probable reason behind the reduction of Punjabi candidates could be the consolidation of community in favour of the BJP due to a Punjabi CM.