Col Kirori Singh Bainsla,the face of the twin Gurjjar community agitations in 2007 and 2008 in Rajasthan,formally joined the BJP on Saturday in Jaipur ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Seated along side state BJP president O P Mathur,Bainsla announced the move at the BJP headquarters in Jaipur,asserting that he joined the party to champion the cause of the downtrodden Gurjjar community in Parliament. If Bainsla is pitted against Congress Union Minister Namo Narain Meena from the Sawaimadhopur-Tonk constituency,Rajasthan may witness its first direct Gurjjar-Meena poll battle. Though Mathur and Bainsla remained tight-lipped about the latter being given a ticket to contest the polls,senior BJP leaders believe Bainsla may contest from the Sawaimadhopur-Tonk seat in eastern Rajasthan. The constituency,which was changed from ST reserved to general in the delimitation exercise,includes a formidable share of Gurjjar votes. Sources in the BJP stated that Bainsla could even be considered from the Jaipur Rural seat,which consists of a fair share of Gurjjar voters. Announcing his BJP membership,Bainsla said: I have joined the BJP with a sacred purpose,which is to safeguard the interest of the downtrodden in the country. The condition of several within the Gurjjar community,which has been requesting ST status,is an issue that should be raised in Parliament. Bainsla also took a dig at the Congress,stating that the Rajasthan Governor had still not signed the reservation bill despite it being passed unanimously in the state Assembly in July last year. It is a historical bill,which was passed unanimously,but has not come into effect for no logical reason, Bainsla said. According to Mathur,Bainsla joining the BJP could help ease tensions between the Gurjjars and Meenas. It is a kind of social engineering. We want to bridge the gap between the two communities. Colonel saab has joined the BJP and has agreed to work for the party whereever it is deemed necessary, Mathur said.
