As Rajasthan gears up for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 26, all eyes are on the key constituencies and candidates that will shape the political landscape of the state.
In this phase, 13 out of Rajasthan's 25 seats will go to the polls, including the crucial Kota constituency, currently represented by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
The first phase, which covered 12 seats, saw a voter turnout of nearly 58%, indicating a significant decrease from the 2019 turnout of 63.71%.
For the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rajasthan holds immense importance, as it aims to replicate its 2019 success when it secured 24 out of the 25 seats. This time, the party, led by Hanuman Beniwal, is contesting as part of the opposition bloc known as INDIA.
In Kota, the 'Grudge Match' between BJP's Om Birla and Congress candidate Prahlad Gunjal is set to unfold. Birla, seeking his third term, contrasts with Gunjal, who brings fiery rhetoric and a history of switching party affiliations.
Banswara presents another intriguing contest, with BJP's Mahendra Jeet Malviya facing challenges from BAP's Rajkumar Roat and Congress's Arvind Damor, whose nomination refusal against party orders has sparked controversy.
In Barmer, Union minister Kailash Choudhary faces an independent Rajput rebel, Ravindra Bhati, and Congress's Ummeda Ram Beniwal, challenging Choudhary's Rajput community dominance.
Jodhpur witnesses Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat seeking re-election against Congress's Karan Singh Uchiyarda, focusing on development issues versus Uchiyarda's emphasis on unemployment and healthcare.
Ajmer features a dynamic contest between BJP's Bhagirath Chaudhary and Congress's Ram Chandra Choudhary, both from the dominant Jat community, strategically positioning themselves to appeal to local caste dynamics.
As Rajasthan heads into the second phase of polling, the outcome in these constituencies will not only shape the state's political landscape but also have broader implications for national politics.
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