In the upcoming parliamentary elections in Rajasthan, exit polls suggest a potential shift in the political landscape, with the BJP possibly unable to replicate its previous clean sweeps.
In both 2014 and 2019, the BJP secured all 25 parliamentary seats in the state. However, this time around, exit polls indicate that the opposition INDIA bloc could secure five to seven seats.
The final outcome will be revealed on Tuesday when the votes are counted. The voting for the 25 parliamentary constituencies in Rajasthan took place over two phases on April 19 and 26.
Praveen Gupta, the Chief Electoral Officer, has stated that the votes will be counted at 29 designated centres under strict security measures. The counting process will commence with postal ballots, followed by votes from Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Amidst the heightened anticipation, Govind Singh Dotasra, the Congress state president, has expressed confidence in securing 12 to 13 seats, including Bharatpur, the hometown of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. However, Sharma remains steadfast in the BJP's stance, asserting confidence in winning all 25 seats.
The election outcome will decide the fate of prominent leaders such as Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Union ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Kailash Chaudhary.
Notably, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot's son, Vaibhav Gehlot, is a significant contender, contesting from the Jalore-Sirohi seat where his father enjoys substantial support.
Rajasthan has witnessed fierce electoral battles in around 10 seats, with the Congress forming alliances with the CPI(M) in Sikar and the RLP in Nagaur, while supporting the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) in Banswara-Dungarpur. In contrast, the BJP contested all 25 seats independently.
Seats such as Kota, Jalore, Sikar, Nagaur, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Tonk-Sawaimadhopur, Barmer, Banswara, and Jodhpur have become focal points of intense competition, testing the credibility of senior leaders.
For instance, in Kota, Birla faces direct competition from the Congress' Prahlad Gunjal. Jodhpur witnessed a contest between the fresh face Karan Singh Uchiyarda, a Sachin Pilot loyalist, and Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
In Nagaur, a significant showdown unfolded between two prominent Jat leaders, Congress ally Hanuman Beniwal of the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party and the BJP's Jyoti Mirdha, a former Congress MP.
The poll authority in the state has implemented stringent security measures and appointed micro- and counting observers at all centres, adhering to the Election Commission's directives.
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