Banjara Kranti Dal to field 22 seats independently

The Banjara community, which is politically strong and has a presence in all political parties, have decided to contest 22 out of total 48 seats of the Lok Sabha in the coming elections. The Bharatiya Bahujan Kranti Dal (BBKL) led by Morsing Rathod has taken a decision to field independently in all parts of the state, especially in Vidarbha and Marathwada where the population of the community plays a deciding role. In a core committee meeting held on Sunday, it was decided to focus on South Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Jalgaon, Washim, Yavatmal, Hingoli, Jalna, Ahmednagar, Akola, Nanded, Parbhani, Osmanabad, Solapur, Aurangabad, Dhule, Raver, Buldhana, Chandrapur, Latur, Bhiwandi, Pandharpur and Nashik LS seats.

Rathod, while speaking with the media said, “The population of Banjara community is around 12 million across the state. Like Dhangars, Banjara voters are in majority in more than 50 per cent assembly constituencies across the state. It’s a good opportunity to show the strength of the community and to win maximum seats of the LS and in next assembly polls.”

The late Vasantrao Naik and Sudhakarrao Naik were two chief ministers from the community who led the state. Nilay Naik, the next generation of the Naik family, had

The population of Banjara community is around 12 million across the state. Like Dhangars, Banjara voters are in majority in more than 50 per cent assembly constituencies across the state. It’s a good opportunity to show the strength of the community and to win maximum seats of the LS and in next assembly polls. — MORSING RATHOD, leader, Bharatiya Bahujan Kranti Dal

joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) last year and became the member of state legislative council (MLC) from the BJP quota.

Whereas Haribhau Rathod, former BJP member of Parliament, who later joined Congress is now a member of the Upper House. Sanjay Rathod of Shiv Sena is in Devendra Fadnavis cabinet holding portfolio of revenue as minister of state. All these three leaders belonging to Banjara community hail from Yevatmal district only.