Caste cauldron causes unease in BJP as Patidar, Kshatriya get into fight

AS the Kshatriya community has remained firm on their demand that Union minister Purushottam Rupala be replaced as the BJP candidate from the Rajkot Lok Sabha seat, Patidars have started a social media drive in support of him, leaving the ruling party caught between two dominant castes in Gujarat With about 18 per cent of Gujarat's population, the Patidar community holds sway over more than seven of the 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat.

- DILIP SINGH KSHATRIYA

For the past week, the Kshatriyas, also known as Rajputs, have been staging protests over Rupala's remarks about the community. Jyoti Tilwa, a BJP leader and a prominent figure among the Patidars, circulated a message urging for unity. "Even after Rupala apologised many times, it is not appropriate for anyone to have such a concern.