Cong worry over Jat seats despite Vaibhav’s victory
Their infighting, failure of the state government and people’s faith in PM Narendra Modi will ensue their defeat in bypolls
JAIPUR: While Assembly Speaker CP Joshi’s camp is upbeat with t heir win at t he Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) elections, it has come as a concern for the state Congress in view of the upcoming assembly bypolls for the two Jat dominated seats.
Chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s son Vaibhav Gehlot was elected as the RCA president on Friday, and the newly formed executive has appointed the outgoing RCA President Joshi as its chief patron.
The Opposition, BJP and Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP), meanwhile, is all geared to encash the developments with former Leader of Opposition Rameshwar Dudi, alleging misuse of government machinery and injustice during the RCA election. Dudi intended to contest for the post of the RCA president but his nomination was rejected, and no one from his faction managed to secure any position in the association.
BJP state president Satish Poonia has time and again cornered CM Ashok Gehlot over the issue for supporting his son.
The bypolls are slated for October 21. The two Jat dominated assembly seats fell vacant after MLAS Narendra Khichad (Mandawa) and RLP leader Hanuman Beniwal (Khinvsar) got elected to the Lok Sabha.
A senior Congress leader and star campaigner in the bypolls on anonymity said there is no doubt that BJP might play this issue in bypolls as they do not have any other.
The development is unfortunate and might have an impact to an extent on Khinwsar seat but not in Mandawa. He added that statements and reactions of leaders on the RCA elections have
turned it political.
After filing his nomination on Wednesday, Dudi had stated0 that power was being misused by the government. In RCA elections, the way force was used is injustice to the common man. “I am the son of a farmer and can tolerate being stabbed in chest but not on the back, this has hurt me - the farmers of the state will take revenge in village and hamlets,” he said.
Senior congress leader, Dudi after the RCA results on Friday when asked will the entire incident affect upcoming bypolls, “Certainly there will be negative impact.”
However on his stand and party’s prospects in elections he said, “I am with the party and will campaign actively to win both the assembly seats. Today whatever I am is because of Congress.”
Adding to the worry of Congress is RLP, the main opposition
MUKESH PAREEK, BJP spokesperson
on Khinwsar seat, which came out in support of Dudi, prior to the RCA elections. “The RLP will stand wherever there is injustice. We supported Dudi to protect democracy,” said Beniwal, who has fielded his younger brother from Khinwsar.
RLP leader Beniwal has been winning the Khinvsar seat, for last three elections and is known to be his fortress.
He has defeated Sawai Singh of the Congress in 2018 with over 17,000 votes. The seat has come into existence after delimitation in 2008, since then Congress has been losing the seat.
Rajasthan Congress president Sachin Pilot too has expressed his displeasure over the RCA development and has stated that such issues give the Opposition an opportunity to criticise the party. Responding to a question on whether this will have any bearing on two Jat-dominated constituencies going to by-polls, the deputy CM, on the sidelines of a programme in Jaipur two days ago said, “The upcoming bypolls are important and I hope this will not make a negative impact.”
Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Mukesh Pareek said the infight in Congress has reached to an extent that they insulted a senior leader of their party through RCA election by misusing power.
Misbehaviour t owards a farmer’s son has been witnessed by people. “Their infighting, failure of the state government and people’s faith in PM Narendra Modi will ensue their defeat in bypolls,” he said.
Political analyst believes that such developments aren’t good signs for Congress.
“The farming community is divided into two – one is traditionally with the Congress and other is anti-congress and been with Swatantra, Jan Sangh and BSP.
The recent developments (RCA-DUDI) would make an impact on those who are not affiliated to any faction (floating votes),” said Narayan Bareth, a political analyst.
He said the seats are Jat dominated and it is to be seen to what extent Congress is successful in galvanising the anti-bjp votes, though chances are less.
Infighting at local and statelevel would come as another set back in the bypolls.