Limbdi by-poll result reflects defeat of caste politics in rural Gujarat once again

Surendranagar, 5 June 2013

The defeat of Surendranagar Congress MP Somabhai Patel’s son is actually a defeat of casteism, and people of Gujarat deserve pat on their back for it.

Koli community voters enjoy majority presence in Limbdi assembly area. BJP candidate Kiritsinh Rana was from Kshatriya community, while rival Congress candidate was from Koli community.

Congress was hoping to win the seat through Koli card, because as per the traditional political arithmetic, it is believed that Koli community voters vote for candidate from their community only, and they just don’t consider party and other factors.

However today’s by-poll result clearly shows that rural voters of Limbdi didn’t vote with caste considerations in their mind.

Limbdi had elected Shri Kiritsinh Rana in previous polls, and Rana was made minister of state in last term. Rana however lost the poll last year in general elections of Gujarat assembly against sitting Congress MP and Koli leader Somabhai Patel – a former BJP man. As per the party order, Somabhai later resigned from Limbdi assembly seat to continue as member of parliament, which caused Limbdi assembly by-poll.

The Congress party fielded Somabhai’s son as candidate, and entire election campaign of Somabhai, his son and Congress party was focused on Koli community card. However, people of Gujarat once again showed that even the rural politics in modern time has risen above the caste asthmatics.

BJP is now more confident to defeat Somabhai Patel in next Lok Sabha polls.