A Jat stronghold that changes loyalties with national trend

Jaipur: Jhunjhunu, a key constituency in the state of Rajasthan, has been witnessing an intriguing political scenario over the years. The electoral history of Jhunjhunu reflects it as a significant stronghold of the Congress party. From 1952 to 2014, Congress dominated the constituency, with leaders like Radheshyam Morarka winning three times and Sis Ram Ola securing five consecutive victories. Notably, in 1989, the current vice president of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, won the elections fighting from the Janta Dal. However, the past two Lok Sabha elections have seen a shift, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerging victorious in 2014 and 2019 with Santosh Ahlawat and Narendra Kumar as MPs, respectively.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJP’s Narendra Kumar won Jhunjhunu with a significant 3,02,547- vote margin against INC’s Sharwan Kumar. The Jhunjhunu Lok Sabha constituency comprises eight Vidhan Sabha segments, including Jhunjhunu, Nawalgarh, Fatehpur, Pilani (SC), Khetri, Mandawa, Udaipurwati, and Surajgarh. In the 2023 Assembly elections, Congress secured six out of eight seats. Party leader Dinesh Sunda is optimistic about winning the Lok Sabha seat, citing historical successes and pro-Congress sentiment. Congress has won 11 out of 17 elections in Jhunjhunu.

Traditionally a Jat stronghold, constituency’s demographics include Muslim, Jat, and SC voters, favoring Congress historically. However, BJP is actively challenging this trend, holding rallies & engaging senior leaders. Narendra Kumar’s 2019 victory signals growing BJP support.