Voting Begins In Rajasthan Amidst High-Stakes Battle For Survival
Voting for the Rajasthan assembly elections has begun as voters geared up to choose representatives for the state”s 200 constituencies. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seeks to displace the incumbent Ashok Gehlot-led Congress, which is determined to defy the historical pattern of alternating governments.
Polling for Rajasthan elections is scheduled from 7 am to 6 pm across 199 constituencies, with heightened security measures in place, according to Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta. Unfortunately, due to the demise of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar in Sriganganagar”s Karanpur seat, the election in this constituency has been postponed.
The Rajasthan election landscape this year has been marked by a vigorous campaign. Congress emphasized the achievements of the Ashok Gehlot government, its initiatives, and a pledge of seven guarantees if re-elected. In contrast, the BJP targeted the Congress on issues ranging from women”s safety, appeasement, and corruption to paper leaks.
A total of 1862 candidates are vying for positions, with a staggering 5,25,38,105 voters, including 22,61,008 new voters aged 18-19.
Notable contenders from the Congress in Rajasthan assembly elections 2023 include Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, state Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra, and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot. On the BJP side, former chief minister Vasundhara Raje and leader of the opposition Rajendra Rathore are among the prominent candidates.
Other key players in the elections include Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) convener Hanuman Beniwal, contesting in alliance with Aazad Samaj Party, and Gurjar leader Kirodi Singh Bainsla”s son Vijay Bainsla representing the BJP.
The BJP has fielded 59 MLAs, including defected Congress MLA Girraj Singh Malinga, while the Congress has nominated 97 MLAs, including seven independents. The election also sees participation from rebels of both parties.
Preparations for the election are complete according to Election Commission officials, with 36,101 polling places and 65,277 ballot units, 62,372 control units, and 67,580 VVPAT machines deployed. To ensure a smooth process, 6,287 micro observers, 6247 sector officers, and 2,74,846 polling personnel have been appointed.
Security measures are robust, with 1,02,290 security personnel, including central paramilitary forces and armed forces from 18 other states. Additionally, sealing and checking actions are in place along the interstate border to prevent unwanted outsider elements.
In Rajasthan, Congress is mainly dependent on the plans formulated by Ashok Gehlot, the senior member of the Indian National Congress (INC). The Congress leader has been in politics for the last five decades. Ashok Gehlot became the Rajasthan chief minister for the first time in 1998. His second term as chief minister began in 2008, and he ruled until 2013. In this assembly election, the 72-year-old Ashok Gehlot is making a solo fight as there is a severe internal conflict between him and the former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot. However, on November 19, Sachin Pilot stated that the Congress party believes in collective leadership. The Congress leader also added that individual responsibilities in the state will be decided upon and allocated once Congress returns to power. The Congress party is making constant efforts to clear up the conflicts between Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot.
In a last-minute show of unity, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot posted a video on social media featuring Sachin Pilot urging voters to support the Congress, highlighting the significance of this election amid the ongoing power struggle between the two leaders.
On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is mainly depending on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Rajasthan Assembly election. The BJP is also highlighting various developmental projects done by the central government. At the same time, the BJP also believes that the internal conflicts in the Congress party will be an advantage to the BJP. PM Modi has already participated in several election rallies in Rajasthan. Notably, PM Modi has visited poll-bound Rajasthan 11 times since January. While addressing a public meeting recently, PM Modi commented on the Gehlot-Pilot conflict and said that the leaders are only pretending to join hands for elections. The Prime Minister also added that there has been no reconciliation despite a hundred handshakes.
