By Anish Singh
Jhalrapatan, Nov 28 (UNI) The allotment of party ticket to former Union Minister Jaswant Singh’s son Manvendra Singh, who is facing an 'outsider' tag in Jhalrapatan where he is contesting against Chief Minister Vadundhara Raje, may seem to be a risky move by the Congress but the former BJP leader is campaigning hard in the area to beat all odds.
According to locals in Kalmandi Kalan panchayat, social activist Shailendra Yadav would have made a better choice for the constituency but the mantle fell on Mr Singh as part of party’s larger strategy to trap the chief minister in her constituency.
One factor that, locals feel, could go against Manvendra, is the 'outsider' tag that he faces, something that he has been fighting hard to counter.
It is thanks to his efforts that the earlier resistance in accepting Manvendra Singh as candidate from Jhalrapatan has dissipated .
'Now things are okay. Both the parties are working hard,'a local said.
Muslims, Brahmins, Gujjars and Rajputs are the influential and numerically predominant communities in this assembly segment where caste equation plays an important role in sending anyone to the 200-member Rajasthan assembly house.
As per the Rajasthan Election Commission data, of 2,74,430 voters in this assembly segment, the Muslims constitute 35,000, Schedule Castes 35,000, Brahmins 28,000, Gujjars 24,000, Rajputs 17,000 and Schedule Tribes 10,000.
Though the Congress is banking upon a combination of Muslims, Brahmins, Gujjars, Rajputs and Schedule Castes voters, the BJP is hopeful that they would get support of all quarters of the society as they believe the developmental works carried out by both the state and central government would translate into votes, making Ms Raje win again with huge margin.
Harishpura and Junapani villages have a domination of Banjara community, mainly engaged in daily wage, who are die hard supporters of the BJP.
Bhana ji Banjara of Junapani says, “Madam (Ms Raje) gave us electricity supply 24*7 for domestic consumption. For agriculture, she gave power supply in day time. During the Gehlot regime, we used to get power supply at midnight for irrigation purpose. Now, you tell how could you survive during winter.”
While the BJP leaders have been reeling out statistics to show the achievement of Raje as well as Narendra Modi government at centre, the opposition leaders mainly the Congress pointing out to the rising prices of fuel, farmers distress, unemployment and graft.
Singhania has a 95 per cent Rajputs population who are of the view that Ms Raje has betrayed the Rajput community.
“There are many issues on which we are not supporting Madam right from Padmavat row to encounter of Chatur Singh and Anandpal. She also opposed appointment of Gajendra Singh Shekhawat as state party chief even when the Prime Minister wanted him to hold the post” said Vishal Singh.
Sarpanch of Kalihandi kalan Vinay Pratap Singh Jhala says, “The contest is tough. It is not easy for anyone.
Ms Raje, who hails from Dholpur, which is about 400 km away from Jhalawar., has been winning from the
seat since 2003.
A total of eight candidates are in the fray from the seat .Manvendra Singh fell apart with Ms Raje when his father contested Lok Sabha polls from Barmer in Rajasthan independently in 2014. He was Sheo MLA then and had campaigned in favour of his father, who had held top portfolios in Atal Behari Vajpayee-led NDA government, including External Affairs, Finance and Defence.
Rajasthan will go to polls on December 7.
UNI ASH AR 1438