Will Modi factor work in Chittorgarh amid Rajput row?

CHITTORGARH: Facing protests from a section of the Rajput community over Union Minister Parshottam Rupala’s remarks, the BJP in Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh -- a Rajput-dominated seat -- is hoping that the ‘Modi factor’ and the development work undertaken by his government will help it retain the Lok Sabha constituency.

Meanwhile, the Congress is raising the issues of farmer welfare and inflation to seek votes from the people of constituency, which goes to the polls in the second phase of the ongoing general elections on April 26.

The BJP has fielded its state president CP Joshi from the seat while the Congress has placed its bet on former state minister Udailal Anjana.

Joshi, who won the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Chittorgarh, is aiming for a hat-trick of wins -- an unprecedented feat -- and cited the increased rail connectivity, running of new trains and construction of new highways in his constituency to highlight the development done by the BJP. “Due to the development work, this region is about to change. I am confident that people of Chittorgarh constituency will choose development,” said Joshi.

Joshi, who is contesting the Lok Sabha elections for a third time, is hoping that the ‘Modi factor’ and the development work undertaken in the constituency will shield the BJP from the negativity created against the party in the Rajput community. Members of the Kshatriya community, also called Rajputs, have demanded that the BJP remove Rupala as the party candidate for the Rajkot Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat, following his remarks a few days back.

Anjana is presenting himself as son of a farmerand is seeking votes on the issue of farmers’ welfare while cautioning people that the BJP is likely to end reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs if it gets more than 400 seats.

There are more than 21 lakh voters in the Chittorgarh seat including five lakh new voters. The seat is dominated by Rajput, followed by Vaishya and Brahmin voters.