Geetanjali Gayatri

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 30

After suffering a setback following violence during the tractor parade on the Republic Day, the farmers’ agitation is back on track though it has moved on from being a Punjab-driven protest to a Jat-propelled affair.

The second phase of mobilisation of farmers from Haryana following UP farmer leader Rakesh Tikait’s emotional outburst has turned the tables after the agitation started to lose steam, with voices of dissent against sit-ins beginning to grow.

Though Balbir Singh Rajewal apologised, his words on the role of Haryanvis in the Republic Day violence had led to Haryanvis pulling back. Tikait breathed new life into the agitation on Thursday evening.

In response, villagers in the Jat heartland organised panchayats and tractors and trolleys were on their way to Ghazipur. The renewed enthusiasm following Tikait’s appeal could spell greater trouble for the BJP-led government in the state and a bigger headache for its alliance partner, the JJP.

With khap panchayats putting their weight behind the agitation, the appeal has consolidated Jats in a state divided along caste lines, with non-Jats as the BJP’s vote bank. This stark division, in the backdrop of violence during the Jat quota agitation in 2016, is bound to make it a tightrope walk for the BJP.

The JJP and Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala are likely to feel the maximum heat. With Jats as his vote bank and mounting support to the agitation from the Jat belt, Dushyant can no longer afford to lie low.

Already under pressure from farmers to withdraw support to the BJP, the Jat spin to the protest is likely to add to his growing headache. All eyes are on Dushyant after his paternal uncle and INLD leader Abhay Chautala resigned from the Vidhan Sabha in support of farmers.

With the movement set to begin a new chapter, every passing day will make it more difficult for him to strike the balance of retaining his vote bank and occupying the position of Deputy Chief Minister.