Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Vaghela’s Caste Remark Revives Gujarat’s 2027 Political Calculations
Shankarsinh Vaghela spoke at a gathering in Gujarat about tribal reservations.
He said people who oppose reservation should do manual scavenging and named three communities, which upset many people.
He explained what he meant but did not apologise.
The article says the comments matter because Vaghela may return to the Congress party.
It suggests that caste issues could become more prominent as Gujarat prepares for its 2027 election.
Gujarat had strong caste-based political activity before the 2017 election.
The BJP later won a very large majority in the 2022 state election.
The article argues that opposition parties need to find a stronger way to challenge the BJP.
At an October 2 gathering in Sagbara, former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela defended tribal reservations and criticised the BJP government’s position.
Vaghela said opponents of reservation should do manual scavenging and offered to pay ₹50,000, naming Brahmins, Patels and Vanias; the remarks prompted backlash.
Vaghela clarified his comments but refused to apologise, while reports and statements from both sides indicated he could return to Congress.
The article argues that caste mobilisation may be an attempt to revive political dynamics seen before Gujarat’s 2017 election, when Congress won 77 seats and BJP 99.
The BJP won 156 of 182 Gujarat Assembly seats in 2022 and 25 of the state’s 26 Lok Sabha seats in 2024; the article sees its entrenched support as a major opposition challenge ahead of 2027.
- Who
- Former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela, Congress leaders, and members of the communities he named.
- What
- Vaghela made a controversial remark about reservation and manual scavenging, prompting backlash and political debate.
- When
- October 2; the article discusses its significance ahead of Gujarat’s 2027 Assembly election.
- Where
- Sagbara, in Narmada district, Gujarat.
- Why
- Vaghela was speaking in support of tribal reservations; the article argues the remark may also carry political significance amid discussion of his possible return to Congress and efforts to challenge the BJP.
Reservation and caste mobilisation
Criticism and electoral concerns
Reservation and Vaghela’s remarks
Reservation and caste mobilisation
Vaghela said tribal reservation was compensation for past suffering and a right, and argued that opponents should take up manual scavenging.
Criticism and electoral concerns
Members of the named communities objected to his remarks; Vaghela’s refusal to apologise has intensified the controversy.
Caste politics as an electoral strategy
Reservation and caste mobilisation
The article suggests caste mobilisation may help opposition parties challenge the BJP and draws a parallel with the period before the 2017 election.
Criticism and electoral concerns
The article warns that centring caste divisions may be politically risky, particularly given the BJP’s strong election results and Vaghela’s association with Congress.
- Speaker
- Shankarsinh Vaghela, former Gujarat Chief Minister
- Speech date
- October 2
- Venue
- Sagbara, Narmada district, Gujarat
- Communities named
- Brahmins, Patels and Vanias
- Offer mentioned
- Vaghela said he was ready to pay ₹50,000 to opponents of reservation who took up manual scavenging
- Gujarat Assembly results, 2017
- BJP won 99 seats; Congress won 77; majority mark was 91
- Gujarat Assembly results, 2022
- BJP won 156 of 182 seats; Congress won 17
- Gujarat Lok Sabha results, 2024
- BJP won 25 of 26 seats; Congress won Banaskantha