‘2024 most painful election of my career’

RAJKOT: Union minister and BJP’s candidate for Rajkot Lok Sabha seat, Parshottam Rupala on Wednesday said that the 2024 general election was the most difficult and painful one in his political career of over 40 years. He once again apologized for the comments he made on the Kshatriya community during the early part of his election campaign.
Rupala’s apology came a day after Lok Sabha polls were concluded in Gujarat.
“The voting is over, now I want to make a confession,” said Rupala addressing the media in Rajkot on Wednesday. “I have contested many elections in over 40 years of my life as a politician. But this election (2024 LS polls) was the most challenging one. My entire party got entangled in a controversy. It was painful for me because the party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi suffered because of me,” he added.
“It was my mistake (to comment on Kshatriyas) and I was solely responsible for whatever happened. Personally, it was painful for me because my speeches are usually an asset for my party. But my statement as a candidate caused problems for my party. I also regret the fact that senior ministers of BJP had to publicly apologize due to my statement,” the union minister said.
He explained that his apology soon after the comments was not driven by political motives to gain votes. “I once again apologize to the entire Kshatriya community. I urge the women of the community to embrace ‘Kshama Virasya Bhushanam’ (forgiveness is the virtue of the brave). My appeal is not politically motivated,” he told reporters in Rajkot.
Rupala had angered Rajputs by claiming that erstwhile ‘maharajas’ succumbed to the persecution of foreign rulers as well as the Britishers. He further said these ‘maharajas’ broke bread with these rulers and also married off their daughters to them.
The community saw the remarks as an insult to them and had repeatedly asked the BJP to withdraw Rupala’s candidature, warning that it would go against the ruling party in this election if it continued with him.
When the BJP did not replace Rupala as its candidate from Rajkot, community leaders gave a call to defeat the party’s candidates on at least 10 seats, including Rajkot and Jamnagar. However, two days before the elections, Kshatriya leaders associated with the BJP in Gujarat appealed to the community to forgive Rupala and vote for the saffron party in the country’s interest.
The BJP had dropped two-time MP Mohan Kundariya to pick Rupala from Rajkot. Congress had fielded former MLA Paresh Dhanani for this Patidar-dominated seat, considered a stronghold of BJP since the late 80s.