Jat plays decisive role in Rajasthan’s Sikar

Haryana stalwart Devi Lal also contested and won from here in 1989 and went on to become the deputy Prime Minister during Chandrashekhar’s short lived Government.

However,it was the same Jat community,which in the 1990s demanded reservation under OBC category,brought BJP to power here in 1998. The saffron party continues to hold power since then in Sikar,which was till late 1980s a Congress stronghold.

Sitting three-time BJP Sikar MP Subhash Maharia,who has won in 1998,1999 and in 2004,had largely benefited from the Jat votes.

However,local political observers here feel that this time Maharia could see tough competition from the CPI(M),which has emerged as a force to reckon with in this region during the last 13 years.