CASTE IDENTITY POLITICS IN GUJARAT: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF 2017 AND 2022 ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS

Caste identity has historically shaped the electoral behaviour as well as the social and political strategies of different parties in Gujarat. The KHAM theory propounded by Madhavsinh Solanki in the 1980 s laid the foundation for the states caste based political cadre and its mobilization, securing a victory for the Indian National Congress party in 1985. However, it also led to the alienation of other dominant castes, eventually leading to the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party. This paper analyses the role of caste identity politics in Gujarat by comparing 2017 and 2022 assembly elections. The dissatisfaction of the Major OBC leaders with the BJP and their agitation against the ruling party provided the Congress with a brief boost during the 2017 elections. However, the BJP was able to reclaim its two-thirds majority in the 2022 assembly elections, despite the Aam Aadmi Party emerging as a new force and obtaining National Party status. The Aam Adami Party contested in 181 of 182 constituency, won five seats and secured 13% of vote share in the 2022 assembly election. In light of this, the paper argues that caste identity politics in Gujarat have been undergoing notable changes in the areas of community-based vote banks, caste-based cadre mobilisation, and the marginalisation of social groups like Muslims and Dalits who belong to the SC/ST Communities. Thus, the analysis illustrates how contemporary Gujarati politics is increasinglly shaped by community alignments and welfare scheme driven objectives.