Rajasthan By-polls: Daunting task for BJP to retain it's seats

Two days after by-polls in Rajasthan were held on two Lok Sabha seats and one assembly seat, intense discussions between the party-men are taking place predicting the results of the elections. Workers and leaders from both sides seem to reach to an idea on the outcome of Alwar parliamentary seat, while they find difficult to forecast the fate of Ajmer Lok Sabha and Mandalgarh assembly segment. The counting of votes on the three seats will be held tomorrow. (February 1)

Even as the ruling BJP has been battling anti-incumbency factor on all three seats, it is yet to be seen if the resentment of Rajputs, who openly announced to vote against BJP, would actually result into votes in favour of Congress. Rajputs have been staunch supporters of BJP since its infant days as for Jan Sangh. Particularly, Former Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was the one, who bought majority of Rajputs to get associated with the saffron party.  

Nearly two weeks ago, when more than a dozen Rajput, Ravana Rajput, and Charan Rajput organizations held a press conference in Jaipur to declare opposition against BJP, their leaders accused the ruling party of “ignoring” Rajput leaders like Shekhawat and former external affairs minister Jaswant Singh. Political pundits believe that Rajput outfits are in a position to the influence the outcome of Ajmer Lok Sabha seat. 

Moreover, low voter turnout in Ajmer city‘s both assembly segments (Ajmer North 55.88%, Ajmer South 59.46%) is being seen as a result of inactiveness of BJP workers as well RSS cadres in the area. Party insiders blamed it on BJP‘s choice of candidate, Ramswaroop Lamba, who despite being a political greenhorn was chosen to encash Jat community‘s sympathy for his father ex-minister Sanwar Lal Jat, whose death necessitated the by-poll.

In Alwar Lok Sabha area, the voters‘ resentment against local leadership was being seen a major factor against the ruling party. The Yadav community, which is said to be game-changer in the parliamentary seat, appears to have sympathized with Congress candidate Karan Singh who has made a comeback to politics after a decade. Meanwhile, Mandalgarh assembly seat will see a very tough contest as the voting percentage was also high in the constituency. The Congress and BJP are going neck-to-neck in the contest.