In Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot bets on welfare schemes to beat anti-incumbency

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's emphasis on bachat, raahat, badhat schemes to beat Rajasthan's trend of incumbent gov'ts being voted out. BJP and Congress vying for power, with RLP and AAP also contesting. BJP's Vijay Bainsla and Congress' Sachin Pilot contesting in Tonk. BJP's Diya Kumari and Congress' Rafeeq Khan in Jaipur. Key issues include farm loan waiver, ERCP, law and order, communal tensions, social security.

In his greetings to Congress candidates named in the second list announced on October 22 for the Rajasthan Assembly elections, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot reaffirmed his emphasis on the schemes of bachat, raahat, badhat (savings, relief, growth), through which he expects to beat the desert State’s trend of incumbent governments being voted out of power during the last three decades.

This probably is the biggest challenge which the Congress faces despite highlighting its achievements in the flagship public welfare schemes. Mr. Gehlot said the party needed to “work tirelessly” and get people’s blessings to speed up the fourfold progress to 10 times. He also called upon the party workers to give a concrete shape to his vision for bringing Rajasthan to the front row of developed States.

The electoral fight in Rajasthan between two principal players — the ruling Congress and the Opposition BJP — is influenced by a number of factors related to leaders, workers, policies, vision and targets of both the parties. The ongoing distribution of tickets has been plagued by dissidence and rebellion, while the parties such as the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have announced their plans to contest in large number of seats for the 200-member House.

While the Congress has floated the slogan, Kaam Kiya Hai Dil Se, Congress Phir Se (We have worked with heart, let there be Congress again), the BJP has responded with Nahi Sahega Rajasthan (Rajasthan will not tolerate). In the murky political waters of the State, the campaigners have resorted to making allegations and promises, whipping up passions and pointing out shortcomings of the rival parties.

Slogans affirming unity in the rank and file of the BJP were raised when party candidate Vijay Bainsla started his campaign in Tonk district’s Deoli-Uniara constituency last week. While Mr. Bainsla, a prominent Gujjar leader, has been fielded at the seat in view of the community’s strength in the region, the BJP’s decision to appoint South Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri election in-charge of Tonk district has met with skepticism.

Mr. Bidhuri, who has received a show-cause notice from the party for making some abusive remarks in Parliament, has accused the Congress government of indulging in “appeasement politics” and supporting a particular community to obtain its votes. The Congress has fielded former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot again from Tonk and he is expected to counter this narrative in his campaign.

Rajsamand MP and scion of the erstwhile Jaipur royal family Diya Kumari, one of the seven BJP parliamentarians fielded in the Assembly election, initially faced opposition from the supporters of sitting Vidyadhar Nagar MLA Narpat Singh Rajvi, who has since been shifted to Chittorgarh. Ms. Kumari’s growing stature has led to speculations that she may be considered as a replacement for former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who is also from a royal background.