Riding high on Narendra Modi’s popularity and joint efforts by state leaders under Vasundhara’s leadership, the BJP was almost certain to win the battle in Rajasthan. A number of exit polls had also predicted victory for the BJP.
On the contrary, the faction-ridden Congress was struggling to overcome an anti-incumbency mood even as the state leaders were more concerned for tickets to their loyalists.
As the main rival groups claiming loyalty to CM Ashok Gehlot and CP Joshi were at loggerheads, many aspirants were seen lobbying through Jitin Prasad and Sachin Pilot for their proximity to Rahul Gandhi.
However, insistence by party high command to stick to the tough criteria laid by Rahul on picking candidates did what few had imagined till date. Congress has successfully checked rebellion as last date for withdrawing nominations come to an end on Saturday.
A senior leader from the party said, “Situation has changed. Rahul’s directive to not entertain anyone who has lost two elections has helped. Neither Gehlotsab nor Joshiji can claim now to give tickets. This will be the game changer.”
Polling will take place on December 01.
Another leader from a backward caste says, “When someone fails to get a ticket, these so called custodians of the party use the opportunity to serve their own interest. They make a rebel candidate and sabotage the party. This time this is not going to happen.”
“Party workers are happy that Congress has fielded candidates from all sections of the society. This will definitely help the party and turn the poll equation,” says Virendra Sekhawat, a youth Congress leader.
“Rahul Gandhi has done a fantastic job. We will fight together to retain the state and will not allow BJP which has damaged the state on all aspects.”
The party has adhered to the criteria with exceptions in cases of PCC chief Chandra Bhan and Meenakshi Chandrawat who will take on BJP’s CM candidate Vasundhara Raje. The party has nominated 21 women in the race.
Congress has been traditionally banking on Jats, OBC and Brahmins. This time it has nominated Gopal Singh Shekhawat, a Rajput, and Jugal Kabra, a Marwari Bania as working presidents.
In a bid to boost its social engineering agenda, Congress has fielded six candidates from reserved category in as many seats in general category. The party has also offered tickets to leaders from extremely backward castes such as Suttar, Jangir and Dholi .
For Scheduled Caste category, the party has preferred candidates from backward castes such as Valmiki, Khatik and Bairwah to others.
The success of the party in checking rebellion has rekindled hopes of party cadres. But will it be enough to override the anti-incumbency factor?
