Hadoti Region: The Stronghold Of BJP In Rajasthan

The Hadoti region in Rajasthan, comprising 17 assembly constituencies spread over four districts, is considered Rajasthan”s epicentre of political influence. Kota, Bundi, Baran, and Jhalawar are the four districts in the Hadoti region, which is the land of the Chambal River. This region has a major role in supplying power to households in the state through its several power stations.

Out of 17 assembly constituencies in Hadoti, Kota has six, Bundi has three, and Baran and Jhalawar have four seats each. The region is considered a stronghold of the BJP. It is also the home turf of senior BJP leader and former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje, as the leader contests from the Jhalrapatan assembly constituency. During the 2018 Rajasthan Assembly election, Hadoti region stood by the BJP even though Congress won the power. The BJP won 11 assembly seats from the Hadoti region in 2018, and the Congress candidates won six seats. In the Jhalrapatan Assembly seat, Vasundhara Raje defeated Congress rival Manvendra Singh by 34,980 votes.

Hadoti played a vital role in the 2013 Rajasthan polls as the BJP captured power in the state by winning 163 seats. The saffron party won 16 of the 17 assembly seats in the 2013 election. The Congress party had won only the Hindoli seat in the Bundi district at that time. In the 2008 assembly election, the Hadoti region preferred the Congress, as they bagged 10 seats and the BJP won only seven. The region mainly comprises Saharia tribal voters, especially in Baran district. The Saharias, listed as a ‘particularly vulnerable tribal group’, are concentrated in Shahbad town of the district. Other electorates comprise members of Gujjar, Meena, Mali, and people belonging to Other Backward Classes and Scheduled Castes.

A strong RSS influence is the main reason for the BJP”s popularity in this region. Major leaders of the BJP, including former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishan Advani, had visited this region multiple times to earn support for the party. The main challenge the BJP face from this region this time is that the party has not projected Vasundhara Raje as its CM face. On the other hand, the unemployment issue is the main barrier for Congress. Meanwhile, the results of the 17 Assembly seats in the Hadoti region will definitely have an impact on the 200-seat Rajasthan Assembly.