Rajasthan’s seven Assembly bypolls present a test of credibility for veteran leaders

Rajasthan bypolls test BJP and Congress credibility, with triangular contests and impact on state politics.

JAIPUR

The byelections to seven Assembly seats in Rajasthan, being held on Wednesday, have presented a test of credibility for veteran leaders of both the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress. Amid the triangular contest in several of the constituencies, the bypoll results are set to make an impact on the State’s politics, though the BJP government’s stability is not going to be affected.

While the BJP is trying to compensate for the loss of 11 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha election in the State, the Congress-led INDIA bloc has fallen apart barely five months after the polls. The Congress and two other alliance partners are contesting the bypolls separately.

The Congress, Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP), Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) and CPI(M) had together won 11 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the State. In the absence of a seat-sharing arrangement for the Assembly bypolls, the BAP has fielded its candidates in Chorasi and Salumber and RLP in Khinwsar, considered as their strongholds.

Besides Chorasi, Salumber and Khinwsar, the byelections are taking place in Jhunjhunu, Ramgarh, Dausa and Deoli-Uniara. Five of the seven seats fell vacant following the election of sitting MLAs, all of whom were from Congress and its allies in the INDIA bloc, as Lok Sabha Members. Two seats became vacant after the death of sitting MLAs.

In the Congress camp, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was absent during the election campaign because of his commitments in poll-bound Maharashtra, while his former deputy Sachin Pilot addressed some election meetings in Dausa and Deoli-Uniara. Pradesh Congress Committee president Govind Singh Dotasra was the party’s main face in the campaign at all the seven seats.

In a series of rallies, Mr. Dotasra claimed a “clean sweep” for Congress, while criticising the BJP government for its poor performance in health, education and infrastructure during its 10-month-long rule.