Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot of the Congress is seeking a second term as the state votes today, while the BJP relies on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity to secure a majority. Polling for 199 out of Rajasthan’s 200 seats began at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm. The election in Sriganganagar’s Karanpur seat has been suspended due to the death of Congress candidate and incumbent MLA Gurmeet Singh Koonar.
In the 2018 elections, the Congress fell just one seat short of the majority mark, winning 100 seats, while the BJP managed to win 73 seats. The BJP’s tally had decreased from an absolute majority of 163 in 2013. There are 1,862 candidates contesting the elections, with a total of 5.25 crore voters. Among them, 1.71 crore voters are between the ages of 18 and 30, and 22.61 lakh are new voters from the 18-19 age group.
The Congress is banking on the popularity of Ashok Gehlot, known as the “magician,” as well as its seven guarantees and welfare measures, such as the country’s first law for gig workers, to secure re-election in the state. However, voters in Rajasthan have not given any government a second term since 1993, and the BJP is hopeful that this trend, along with Prime Minister Modi’s popularity, will help them return to power. Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, the party’s most popular leader in Rajasthan, has not been declared the chief ministerial face.
The BJP has been attacking the Congress on issues like crime against women, corruption, and alleged paper leak scams. One of the key points used against Mr. Gehlot is the ‘Red Diary’ that allegedly details irregularities committed by the Chief Minister. The opposition party is also hoping that the feud between Mr. Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot will work in their favor. However, both leaders have downplayed their differences in recent weeks.
Sachin Pilot, in a gesture seen as a sign of unity within the Congress, issued an appeal to vote for Congress candidates on Friday, which was shared by Ashok Gehlot. The BJP has fielded seven MPs, including Rajyavardhan Rathore, Diya Kumari, and Kirodi Lal Meena, for the Assembly elections. Over 1 lakh security personnel have been deployed to ensure peaceful voting in the single-phase election. The counting of votes will take place on December 3.
