Key candidates

Vasundhara Raje

Scindia Vasundhara Raje Scindia held the post of 13th Chief Minister (CM) of Rajasthan since 2013; previously she served in the same post from 2003 to 2008, and was the first woman to hold the post. In 1984, Raje entered the Indian political system. Initially, she was made a member of the national executive of BJP. She was also elected as a member of the eighth Rajasthan assembly from Dholpur. The same year, she was appointed as vice president of Rajasthan BJP Yuva Morcha. She is contesting from Jhalrapatan, where she is pitted against Manvendra Singh, son of former BJP leader Jaswant Singh. Manvendra recently switched camps from BJP to Congress.

Ashok Gehlot

Ashok Gehlot is Congress’ national general secretary and in-charge of party’s organisations and training wing. He was the chief minister (CM) of Rajasthan from 1998 to 2003 and again from 2008 to 2013. He was influenced by the teachings of Mahatama Gandhi at a very young age and was actively engaged in social work even as a student. During 1971’s East Bengal refugees crisis, he served in the refugee camps in the eastern states of India.

It is there when former prime minister (PM) Indira Gandhi first identified his organisational skills during one of her visits to the refugee camps. Gehlot will be contesting the state elections from his stronghold in Sardarpura constituency.

Sachin Pilot

Sachin Pilot, a member of Congress, represents Ajmer constituency as a parliamentarian. He was the minister of corporate affairs in the second Manmohan Singh government and is currently president of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (RPCC). Pilot became the first union minister to be commissioned as an officer in the Territorial Army (TA). He is contesting from Muslim-dominated Tonk constituency.