Will BJP be able to stay strong in Hadoti fortress?
KOTA: ENTIRE HADOTI REGION IS CONSIDERED TO BE A BJP BASTION WHERE IT IS STRONG SINCE THE JAN SANGH DAYS. IN SEVERAL SEATS BJP HAS BEEN WINNING FOR LAST 2 OR 3 ASSEMBLY POLLS
The assembly poll results would reveal whether Congress, riding over the anti-incumbency chariot, will be able to shatter the fortress of BJP in Hadoti region where the party has been winning several constituencies for the last few assembly elections.
While entire Hadoti region is considered to be a BJP bastion where it is strong since the Jan Sangh days, there are several constituencies where BJP has been winning for last two or three assembly polls consecutively.
The biggest BJP fortress of Hadoti region is the Jhalarapatan constituency from where chief minister, Vasundhara Raje has been winning polls for the last three consecutive assembly polls.
Raje first won from Jhalarapatan in the year 2003 and later won in 2008 and 2013 assembly polls. Now Congress candidate and MLA from Sheo (Barmer), Manvendra Singh Jasol is contesting against Raje.
For the first time, Raje is seen in a contest as earlier she has dominated opponents in a one sided affair.
In Khanpur assembly constituency, where BJP has been winning consecutively from last three assembly polls, Suresh Gujjar of Congress is in battle with sitting BJP MLA, Narendra Nagar who has also remained MLA in 2003.
The other bastion in Hadauti region is the Ladpura assembly constituency of Kota district where BJP has been winning in last three assembly polls.
The party has denied ticket to the sitting BJP MLA Bhawani Singh Rajawat who has made hat-trick on Ladpura from 2003 to 2013 polls.
He was replaced with Kalpana Devi of the erstwhile royal family of Kota. Congress candidate Gulnaz is the wife of the former Congress candidate on Ladpura, Naimuddin Guddu. Gulnaz is seen fighting against Kalpana Devi.
Ramganjmandi is another constituency of Kota district from where BJP has been winning consecutively from last three polls. While Prahlad Gunjal of BJP had won here in 2003 polls, later BJP replaced him with Chandrakanta Meghwal who is a two-time BJP MLA from here.
This time BJP has replaced sitting MLA Chandrakanta with Ex Minister Madan Dilawar while Congress has fielded Ex Minister, Ramgopal Bairwa. Kota South assembly constituency is the third constituency of Kota district from where BJP has been winning since 2008.
First Om Birla won from here in 2008 and later his confidant, Sandeep Sharma became the BJP MLA.
Currently Sandeep Sharma is facing challenge from Congress candidate, Rakhi Gautam, who is a corporator.
Bundi constituency is the only constituency of Bundi district where BJP has been winning since last two assembly polls.
Sitting BJP MLA Ashok Dogra has been winning from and this time too, the party has shown its faith on him.
Dogra is contesting against Congress candidate, Harimohan Sharma. However, the results of assembly polls on Tuesday will decide if these constituencies will remain BJP stronghold.