Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has been a strong advocate for the backward classes and Dalits, even going as far as calling for Dalit representation in the Miss India contest, which has stirred debate. Amid the opposition’s call for a caste census, the BJP’s release of its first list of 67 candidates for the Haryana elections — featuring 14 backward class candidates and 13 Dalits — is viewed as a direct counter to Gandhi’s stance.
While the BJP has already revealed its candidate list, the Congress is yet to announce its own, with uncertainty surrounding its alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), leading to the BJP taking jabs at the Congress for its delay.
Caste Representation
The BJP’s candidate list includes 14 candidates from backward communities, representing various castes such as Gurjar, Yadav, Kashyap, Kumhar, Kamboj, Rajput, and Saini. Notably, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, a member of the Saini (backward) community, will contest from the Ladwa constituency. Given that 42% of the state’s population belongs to Other Backward Classes (OBCs), the BJP has carefully considered their representation across key constituencies like Jagadhari, Kaithal, Rewari, and others. Additionally, in a shift from its non-Jat coalition of 2014, the party has ensured sufficient representation of Jat candidates in this election.
The BJP has also focused on underprivileged Dalit communities, including Valmiki, Dhanuk, Bawariya, and Bazigar, while still ensuring upper-caste inclusion with nine Brahmin candidates. The list also includes candidates from the Punjabi, Rajput, and Jat Sikh communities.
Women and Turncoats
The BJP has fielded eight women candidates, including Shakti Rani Sharma (a Brahmin from Kalka) and Kamlesh Dhanda (a Jat from Kalayat), among others. The party has also embraced several political turncoats, with Shruti Chaudhry (daughter of Congress leader Kiran Chaudhry) running from Tosham, and former JJP MLA Pavan Kharkahuda contesting from Kharkhauda.
The party has taken a bold approach by fielding 27 new candidates while dropping nine sitting MLAs and ministers, sending a clear message about the importance of performance.