Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s accusation that the Bharatiya Janata Party fuelled divisions within the Patel community to secure electoral advantage in Gujarat drew a sharp retort from the party’s state leadership, which termed the remarks baseless and politically motivated.
Addressing a gathering in Mumbai, Thackeray alleged that the BJP deliberately incited the influential Patel community in Gujarat, creating a wedge between them and other groups to manipulate electoral outcomes. He claimed the strategy was deployed to consolidate the BJP’s support base at the cost of social cohesion. The remarks were made during a broader critique of the BJP’s political tactics, especially in states where caste-based dynamics significantly influence voter behaviour.
Responding firmly to the charges, Gujarat BJP spokesperson Dr Rutvij Patel dismissed the assertions and advised Thackeray to engage in more rigorous research before making such public statements. Dr Patel stated that the BJP has always focused on inclusive development and unity among all communities in Gujarat, including the Patels, who have played a pivotal role in the state’s growth story over the years.
He underscored the BJP’s efforts to empower the Patel community economically and politically, citing examples of infrastructure investments, industrial policies, and leadership opportunities extended to community members. According to him, the BJP’s consistent electoral success in Gujarat has been rooted in public trust earned through governance, not division. Dr Patel accused Thackeray of attempting to fabricate narratives ahead of critical electoral cycles to stay politically relevant outside Maharashtra.
Thackeray’s comments have also sparked discontent within Gujarat’s Patel community, which has historically held significant sway in the state’s political and business spheres. Various community leaders across districts, particularly in Surat, Rajkot, and Mehsana, voiced disapproval of what they perceived as an outsider’s attempt to misrepresent their political choices. Several local organisations reiterated that the Patels have independently supported parties based on governance performance and economic development, rather than being driven by engineered divides.
Observers note that Thackeray’s remarks come amid a broader strategy by opposition parties to challenge the BJP’s stronghold in Gujarat by questioning its social strategies and electoral ethics. With the upcoming general elections looming and state-level politics becoming more polarised, opposition leaders have intensified efforts to target the BJP’s caste alignment approach, particularly in regions where political equations have remained stable for over a decade.
The Patidar agitation of 2015, which demanded reservation benefits for the economically backward among the Patels, continues to resonate in Gujarat’s political discourse. Led by Hardik Patel, the movement briefly disrupted BJP’s traditional dominance and gave opposition parties a chance to forge new alliances. However, BJP’s recalibration in subsequent years, including the induction of Hardik Patel himself into the party, has reinforced its position within the community. The party has since maintained a strong hold over the Patel vote bank, as seen in multiple Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
Political analysts argue that Thackeray’s comments may not significantly impact ground sentiments in Gujarat, where regional political culture differs markedly from Maharashtra. Moreover, with Uddhav Thackeray primarily seen as a Maharashtra-centric leader, his outreach to Gujarat is perceived more as a symbolic gesture aimed at broadening his national footprint than a targeted political manoeuvre.
The BJP leadership in Gujarat continues to focus on its narrative of development, investment inflows, and industrial expansion to retain public support. The state’s economic performance indicators, especially in sectors like pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and renewables, have been repeatedly used by the party to defend its administrative record. The Patel community, with its strong presence in trade, agriculture, and the diamond industry, has been a key beneficiary of these policies, according to government data.
While the political exchange has momentarily drawn attention, ground-level mobilisation by either side remains limited. No major protest or demonstration has followed Thackeray’s remarks in Gujarat. Instead, the BJP appears to be leveraging the situation to reinforce its core narrative that opposition leaders are out of touch with the ground realities of the state.
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