Stung by bypoll loss, BJP issues a rare apology
BJP leader Narendra Singh Tomar has issued a formal apology to the Kushwaha community following the party's loss in the Datia bypoll. The apology addresses controversial remarks he made during the campaign that were perceived as insulting to the community's political credibility.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the critical role of caste-based voting blocs in Indian regional politics and the BJP's efforts to mitigate electoral damage caused by internal rhetoric.
Madhya Pradesh Speaker and veteran BJP leader Narendra Singh Tomar has become the first leader from the party to publicly apologise to the Kushwaha community in the aftermath of the Datia bypoll loss, after an introspection revealed that his remarks during the campaign trail may have hurt the ruling party’s chances as the crucial community swung towards the Congress party. Tomar issued a public apology to the Kushwaha community, withdrawing remarks made during the by-election campaign that described the community as one that "gulati khata hai" (does somersaults, an expression suggesting it frequently shifts political loyalties). During the campaign, Tomar had said: "The BJP has always been tolerant and dedicated towards the Kushwaha community. But from time to time, the Kushwaha community has indulged in 'gulati khana', affecting its own credibility."
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