In 1981, the Government of Gujarat headed by the chief minister Solanki, introduced the reservation for socially and economically backward classes based on recommendations of Bakshi Commission. It resulted in anti-reservation agitation across the state which spilled over in riots resulting in more than hundred deaths. Solanki resigned in 1985 but later returned to power winning 149 out of 182 assembly seats [a record till BJP's victory in 2022 Assembly Elections]. He was supported by Kshatriya, Dalit, Adivasi and Muslims; called collectively as KHAM formula. It resulted in other communities losing the political influence.[8]
Bofors
According to the CBI, Solanki visited Davos in Switzerland in 1992 to attend the World Economic Forum where he allegedly met the Swiss foreign minister Rene Felber and told him that "inquiries conducted into the scam in India had failed to produce any result and that the request for mutual assistance was based on political considerations".[9]
^"गुजरात: बनिये का दिमाग़ और मियांभाई की बहादुरी". BBC News हिंदी (in Hindi). pp. माधव सिंह सोलंकी कोली जाति के थे और इन्होंने ही खाम समीकरण को ज़मीन पर उतारा था. गुजरात में कोली ओबीसी में सबसे बड़ा तबका है. 1955 में सौराष्ट्र में जब भूमि सुधार हुआ तो राजपूतों की ज़मीन पटेलों के पास आई. इसीलिए पटेलों और राजपूतों में दुश्मनी की स्थिति रहती है. प्रोफ़ेसर जानी कहते हैं कि राजपूत पुलिस में ख़ूब जाते थे लेकिन आरक्षण के बाद इसमें भी कमी आई और इनकी हालत ख़राब होती गई. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
^"Madhav Singh Solanki: Architect of caste based alliance". News Riveting. 9 January 2021. pp. Madhav Singh Solanki, a member of the Koli caste (of which the President of India, Ramnath Kovind also belongs) was considered the architect of caste based political alliance in Gujarat. Retrieved 19 February 2024.