Picture is clear on 25 seats, with straight contests on all seats except one
Jaipur: With the completion of the second phase of withdrawal of nominations in Rajasthan on Monday, the picture of the contest on all 25 seats in the State has become clear. Congress candidates are in direct competition with BJP on 22 seats, while Congress’ alliance partners are challenging BJP on three seats. There seems to be a direct contest on 24 out of 25 seats, whereas in Barmer-Jaisalmer, which is included in the list of the largest Lok Sabha seats in the country, the contest seems to be triangular. On this seat, which seems to be entangled in the caste equation, BJP has again fielded Union Minister Kailash Choudhary, while Congress has fielded Umedaram Beniwal. The direct fight between these two has become triangular with the arrival of Ravindra Bhati because apart from Jats, there is also a large number of Rajput voters on this seat.
NEW EQUATIONS FORMED FROM DAMOR’S ‘KHELA’
In Banswara-Dungarpur, a tribal dominated seat, the agreement has fallen apart due to factionalism between Congress and BAP. In such a situation, the campaign to mobilise votes against BJP has suffered a setback. Congress candidate Arvind Damor has played a game with his own party. After Congress announced its agreement with BAP, it was certain that there would be a direct contest between BJP and BAP from Banswara. On Monday all the equations changed completely as Congress candidate Arvind Damor did not withdraw his nomination at the time of last date for withdrawal of nomination. Congress expelled Damor from the party but the strange situation is that he will still be an official Congress candidate and will be seen on the EVM with the Congress’ election symbol.
CLOSE CONTEST EXPECTED IN ‘JAT BELT’
A close contest is expected in Jat dominated seats including Nagaur and Churu. In Churu, there is a direct contest between two-time MP Rahul Kaswan, who comes from a family of political players, and sports player Devendra Jhanjharia. The decision on the seat will be in the favour of Jat voters. Same is the situation in Nagaur Lok Sabha seat where there is a contest between Jyoti Mirdha of BJP and Hanuman Baniwal of Congress-RLP alliance.
GURJAR VOTERS ARE ‘GAME CHANGERS’ IN DAUSA
There is a contest on the Dausa Lok Sabha seat between BJP’s Kanhaiyalal Meena and former Minister Murarilal Meena.
The Gurjar voters will decide the victory on this seat reserved for the ST (Scheduled Tribe). Traditionally, the Gurjar community has been seen standing in support of BJP on this seat till now.
But Murari Meena is among those leaders, who along with Sachin Pilot, raised the flag of rebellion against the Gehlot government.
Pilot is believed to have a hold on the ‘Gurjar’ voters of this area.
