The ‘parallel force’ in Rajasthan BJP, Kirodi Lal Meena takes the fight to Congress

Last week, he conducted one such self-styled raid, taking the media to the Ganpati Plaza, a popular building in Jaipur housing multiple shops and commercial establishments. He alleged that people close to the government had stashed away Rs 500 crore and 50 kg of gold earned through corruption, including question paper leaks, in the building’s private lockers.

As Meena sat on a dharna in front of the lockers, the television media streamed it live. Later, after he levelled the allegations, teams from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax (I-T) Department raided the lockers even though it is still unclear if actual black money was kept at the place. After the clamour died down, the Federation of Rajasthan Trade and Industry (FORTI) issued a statement terming the allegations as politically motivated and saying those levelling the allegations were doing for political gains.

Meena, who belongs to the tribal Meena community, is not new to controversy. In 2021, he dodged the police and hoisted a flag of the Meena community at the Amagarh Fort in Jaipur following a controversy over a saffron flag being taken down at the fort. The action came even as tribal leaders accused Hindu groups of trying to appropriate tribal symbols. Meena, known by monikers such as “Doctor Sahab” and “Baba”, is a sworn proponent of the BJP’s Hindutva ideology. While most tribal politicians assert that tribals don’t come under the Hindu fold, he argues the opposite.

Meena, who holds an MBBS degree, was first elected to the Assembly from Mahwa in Dausa district in 1985 on a BJP ticket. In 1989, he won his first Lok Sabha election.

In and out of BJP

At his height, Meena was a Cabinet minister in the first Raje-led government, between 2003 and 2008. As differences with Raje crept up, he left the BJP in 2008. Before the 2013 Assembly elections, he joined the P A Sangma-led National People’s Party (NPP). Again, his political weight was on display when he helped a party unknown in Rajasthan to four seats in the Assembly.

From 2013 to early 2018, Meena was a vociferous critic of the Raje government. Then, in March 2018, in a surprise move, he returned to the BJP, appearing on the stage with Raje who at that time was dealing with severe anti-incumbency. The party promptly sent Meena to the Rajya Sabha.

In the last five years, Meena has emerged as an almost parallel force within the Rajasthan BJP, holding press conferences and dharnas separate from those officially held by the state unit. He often makes surprise moves to catch the state administration off guard.

Earlier this year, he sat on dharna with the wives of soldiers who lost their lives in the 2019 Pulwama attack, accusing the government of “nonfulfillment of promises”. Meena was also one of the first Opposition leaders to allege in 2021 that the Rajasthan Eligibility Exam for Teachers (REET) question paper had been leaked, putting the Gehlot government on the mat. What has worked in his favour is that central agencies such as the ED have often followed up on his allegations. The Congress has cited this to allege the misuse of investigating agencies by the BJP.

Why Kirodi Lal Meena is important
At 13.48% of Rajasthan’s population, tribals are a significant vote bank. Of them, the Meenas are the majority. While the Meenas have traditionally been Congress voters, the BJP leader has forged a base among them for his party, consistently winning elections in eastern Rajasthan districts with a high tribal population.

Given his clout in the region — Meena’s ability to draw crowds is one of his greatest assets — it was not surprising to see earlier this month that Meena was one of the seven MPs fielded so far by the BJP for the Assembly elections. Meena will be in the fray from Sawai Madhopur, where the BJP doesn’t hold even one of the four Assembly constituencies. In 2018, the BJP won only one of the 24 constituencies in the districts of Bharatpur, Dausa, Dholpur, Karauli, and Sawai Madhopur.