Rajasthan Lok Sabha election: Twirling 9-m saafa to 'peacock' attacks in rallies

From references to the national bird to netas breaking into impromptu dances on stage, the campaign for 25 parliamentary seats in Rajasthan was as colourful as the traditional nine-metre long saafa.

Leading from the front in providing colour and entertainment at public meetings was Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra, a Jat leader hailing from Sikar. Dotasra became a sensation as he danced with gay abandon on stage in all his meetings, sometimes even twirling a saafa above his head to match the drum beats. His dances became the talk of the town. So much that youth icon and Sheo MLA Ravindra Singh Bhati remarked that probably Dotasra should speak on important issues rather than dancing like this. But that didn't deter Dotasra. If at all, the remark appeared to have added some more zest to his performances.

But Dotasra insists he has "never danced really". "It started when I was filing my nomination for assembly elections," he told ET. "Traditional songs dedicated to Teja ji (local deity of the Jat community) were being played and some people started dancing. I joined them and then later wherever I would go people demanded I dance. Janta is our mai-baap. We represent them and we should do what they demand."


Brushing aside Bhati's criticism, Dotasra told him to concentrate on the numbers he was dancing on.

Apart from Dotasra's dance moves, the exchanges between him and bete-noire Rajendra Rathore, former leader of opposition, over peacocks set an entertaining narrative. Dotasra had taken on the Rajput leader and used local references in Marwari to say, "Unke moriya bula denge (roughly meaning we will defeat him)." The "moriya" (peacock) references were repeated so often that electors in public meeting would be heard screaming, "Unke moriya kaise bolenge?"