Gehlot, Pilot, 2 MPs in Cong first list
ASSEMBLY POLLS MP Harish Meena who joined from BJP fielded; eight former MPs get ticket; Pilot to contest from Tonk
The Congress first list of 152 candidates for the Rajasthan assembly polls has several heavyweights including two present and eight former MPs, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and state party chief Sachin Pilot.
The Congress has also given tickets to 73 candidates who lost in 2013 assembly elections, in which the party got 21 seats as compared to 163 of the BJP. The 28 ministers in the previous Congress government led by Gehlot from 2008 to 2013 also got tickets. Only three legislators were denied tickets even though the party gave tickets to 46 new faces and 18 women.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, in its two lists comprising 162 candidates, had fielded 19 women and none from minority. The BJP has so far denied tickets to 43 legislators, including four ministers.
Two-time MP from Dausa (2004) and Ajmer (2009), Pilot will contest his first assembly election from Tonk, while the twotime chief minister, Gehlot, will fight polls continuously for the fifth time from Sardarpura assembly constituency.
Other senior leaders in the list include former union ministers CP Joshi from Nathdwara (Udaipur) and Girija Vyas from Udaipur, and leader of opposition in Rajasthan assembly Rameshwar Dudi from Nokha (Bikaner).
Sitting MPs Harish Meena, who joined the Congress from the BJP two days back, and Raghu Sharma have been fielded from Deoli-Uniara and Kekri respectively. BJP legislator Habibur Rehman has been nomi-
JAIPUR:
Bigwigs dropped: Ex-minister and former state chief BD Kalla (Bikaner-west) and Dr Chandrabhan (Malpura and Mandawa), Sanyam Lodha (Sirohi), Chandra Shekhar Baid (Tara Nagar), Alok Beniwal, son of former governor and deputy CM Kamla Beniwal, (Shahpura), and Zakia (Tonk). Chance to MPs: Ajmer MP Raghu Sharma to contest from Kekri and Dausa MP Harish Meena, who joined the party on Wednesday, fielded from Deoli-Uniara. Ex MP Raghuveer Meena will contest from Salumber, Narendra Budaniya from Taranagar, Khiladi Bairwa
nated from his constituency Nagaur. Kanhaiya Lal Jhanwar (Bikaner-East) and Sona Devi (Raisingh Nagar), who joined the Congress recently from other parties, also got tickets.
Besides factoring in winnability, the Congress has applied the formula of denying tickets to those who lost twice in a row, leading to denial of ticket to 24 leaders, including former state Congress presidents BD Kalla and Dr Chandrabhan. Three sitting MLAs have been denied ticket – Ghanshyam Mehr from Toda Bhim, Hira Lal Darangi from Jadhol and Narayan Singh from Dataramgarh. Singh’s son Virendra Choudhary has been given ticket.
Reacting to the Congress list, BJP spokesperson Mukesh Pareek said, “It seems that the party (Congress) has insulted Ashok Gehlot. The way he has been sidelined, it seems that Congress wants to promote Sachin Pilot. The Congress candidates are not capable of competing against from Baseri, Girija Vyas from Udaipur, CP Joshi from Nathdwara, Pilot from Tonk, Lalchand Kataria from Jhotwara and Harish Choudhary from Baytoo. Parachute candidates: Kanhaiya Lal Jhanwar (Bikaner-East), Harish Meena (Deoli-Uniara), Habibur Rehman (Nagaur) and Sona Devi (Raisingh Nagar). Meena and Rehman joined the Congress on Wednesday. Jhanwar had contested as an independent candidate from Nokha and defeated Rameshwar Dudi in the 2008 polls. Sona Devi joined the Congress from Zamindara Party.
BJP candidates. The list shows that the BJP is forming the government.”
Political analyst Narayan Bareth said the Congress list looks like an attempt to balance supporters of Gehlot and Pilot. “Many good candidates with winning chances suffered in this balancing act. It is difficult to identify who had an upper hand in the list. The undercurrent at present is in favaour of Congress but impact of candidates in their areas will be seen in coming days,” Bareth said.
Of the nine assembly constituencies in Jaipur, the party has cleared names for four – Pratap Singh Khachariyawas from Civil Lines, Ameen Kagzi (Kishanpole), Sitaram Agarwal (Vidhyadhar Nagar) and Ganga Devi from Bagru. Except Vidhyadhar Nagar, candidates have been repeated in the other three seats.
The list of 152 candidates was cleared after a meeting of the CEC, chaired by Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Candidates: Ashok Gehlot vs Shambhu Singh Khetasar
Major issues: Sewer lines and roads
Caste break-up: Mali 55,000 , Muslim 45,000, Rajput 20,000, SCs 30,000 , OBCs 33,000, Brahmin+ 25,000, Sindhi+others 10,000
Electors*
Last two poll results: In 2008, Ashok Gehlot (Cong) defeated Rajendra Gehlot (BJP). In 2013, Gehlot (Cong) defeated Shabhu Khetasar (BJP)
Candidates: Sachin Pilot vs Ajit Singh Mehta Major issues: Water, electricity and sewer lines Caste break-up: Minority 42,000, Gurjar
22,000, Mali 12,000, Mahajan 14,000, Brahmin 12,000, SCs 33,000, Meena 8,000 and Jat 16,000
Electors*
Last two poll results: In 2008, Zakiya (Cong) defeated Mahaveer Prasad (BJP). In 2013, Ajit Singh (BJP) defeated Saud Saidi (Ind) Candidates: Girija Vyas vs Gulab Chand Kataria
Major issues: Roads and water.
Caste break-up: Jain 45,000, Brahmin 40,000, Muslim/ Bohra 32,000, Rajput 10,000, OBCs 40,000, SCs 20,000 and STs 15,000 .
Electors*
Last two poll results: In 2008, Gulab Chand Kataria (BJP) defeated Trilok Purbia (Cong) In 2013, Kataria defeated Dinesh Shrimali (Cong) Candidates: CP Joshi vs Mahesh Pratap Singh
Major issues: Road, water, electricity, problems related to marble business and university
Caste break-up: Brahmin 55,000, OBCs 50,000, SCs 17,000, Jain 18,000, STs 30,000
Last two poll results: In 2008, Kalyan Chouhan (BJP) defeated CP Joshi (Cong). In 2013, Chouhan defeated Devkinandan Gurjar (Cong)
Candidates: Pratap Singh vs Arun Chaturvedi Major issues: Infrastructure development, cleanliness
Caste break-up: Brahmin 35,000, Rajput 30,000, SCs/STs 50,000, Others 40,000+
Last two poll results: In 2008, Pratap Singh Khachariawas (Cong) beat Ashok Lahoti (BJP). In 2013, Arun Chaturvedi (BJP) beat Khachariawas Candidates: Satish Poonia vs Prashant Sharma
Major issues: Drinking water and govt college Caste break-up: OBCs 1 lakh including 42000 Jat, SCs 52,000, STs 28,000, Brahmin 42,000
Last two poll results: In 2008, Ganga Sahai (Cong) defeated Naveen Pilaniya (BJP). In 2013, Pilaniya (NPP) defeated Satish Poonia (BJP)