IT is said that by looking at the beginning of some noble work one can guess how successful it’s going to be. If we see these lines in context with Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha elections then we realise that BJP in its first list itself has declared 176 out of 200 candidates. This is not something normal. If we compare it with Congress then this number is more than double of the declared candidates of Congress.
With this one gets the idea of the election preparations of State BJP leadership as well as of its self confidence also. At the same time it also becomes clear that how much the party is ready for the ‘damage control’. Under the leadership of Vasundhara Raje BJP seems confident of wiping out Congress in these elections. In pre poll surveys carried out by different media organisations in last few days it is becoming evident that in Rajasthan a wave is going on to change the government to bring good governance. It can be stated clearly that in these VidhanSabha election Congress Government is going to end.
Vasundhara Effect is prominent
It’s important to notice that during 2003 to 2008 Smt. Vasundhara Raje was the CM of the State. During BJP Government, Rajasthan came out from category of ‘Bimaru State’ and came to the path of development. Then itself she became the centre of attraction of all. On one hand new opportunities of investments were being opened in Rajasthan on the other Vasundhara Raje was becoming the face of BJP. People of Rajasthan were not yet able to forget the ‘Parivartan Yatra’ of 2003 and new records are made by ‘Suraj Sankalp Yatra’ this time.
After 2003’s ‘Parivartan Yatra’ BJP made history after winning 120 seats for first time. This was the charisma of Smt. Vasundhara Raje only due to which party workers from every village and every nook and corner the State became active and wiped out the Congress. This time also the same situation seems to be being formed. During ‘Suraj Sankalp Yatra’ anti-Congress environment was visible in the whole State, also there was huge public support for BJP and Vasundhara Raje. Starting from the famous pilgrimage place ‘Charbhuja ji’, the Yatra concluded in Jaipir’s ‘Amroodon ka Baag’ with Shri Narendra Modi’s historic rally.
In the beginning of ‘Suraj Sankal Yatra’ the venue in ‘Charbhujaji’ became insufficient to accommodate the present crowd and people were listening to speeches climbing on the trees and hills. On the concluding ceremony of this Yatra the pink city Jaipur was completely covered with the colours of BJP. After many years in Jaipur such a big crowd gathered to listen to some political leader. During ‘Suraj Sankal Yatra’, in four months, Vasundhara Raje went to each Tehsil of State and covered a distance of 14 thousand kilometers. During this she addressed 175 big public gatherings. At hundreds of places the ‘Yatra’ received grand welcomes. BJP got huge support from every section of the society at all places. Looking at the success of ‘Suraj Sankal Yatra’ the election analysts are saying that in Rajasthan again there is a wave in support of BJP. Certainly this time also BJP is going to form the government in full majority.
The reality of the claims of Congress is exposed
The reality of all the tall claims made by Congress before ticket distribution is exposed. Even the national vice president of the party Rahul Gandhi, who claimed of distributing ticket in September, seemed helpless in front Rajasthan’s politics. The formula that he made for ticket distribution collapsed. In Bikaner on May 15, Rahul Gandhi said that Congress will give ticket to the ground level workers. ‘Parachuters’ and the leaders who become visible only at election time will not get importance; nepotism won’t be there in the ticket distribution. Whole system of ticket distribution will be changed by Congress. Although Congress has not been able to change the system of ticket distribution, if anything, at all, has changed then it is those promises and assurances that Congress gave to the people of the State.
The declaration of tickets till the last day of enrollment, the rebel after the distribution of tickets and the tussle that took place while ticket distribution has brought challenges in front of Congress.
Patronising the criminals and neglecting the youth
All the claims made by Congress before the ticket distribution collapsed. Congress said that workers above the age of 65 years won’t be given the ticket. The reality is that Congress has fielded many such leaders whose age is more than 80 years.
Prominent among those Congress leaders who are above the age of 70 years and got ticket are Amari Devi, MLA Malkhan Singh Bishnoi’s mother Harji Ram Burdak, Pradyumna Singh, Amin Khan, Shanti Dhariwal and Ramnarayan Meena. Congress talked of not giving tickets to tainted politicians but if we look at the list of Congress then we find that people like Bharosi Lal Jatav, Udaya Lal Anjana and Prakash Choudhary are there. Not just this but relatives of those who are facing the charges of sexual assaults like the brother of former Minister Babulal Nagar, Mahipal Maderana’s wife and Malkhan Singh Bishnoi’s 83 year old mother Amari Devi have also been given ticket by Congress.
Congress, which claimed of not giving tickets to those politicians which turn up only in election season, has given tickets to maximum independent candidates who were supporting the Government, to BSP’s five MLAs which came to Congress and to Govind Mehwal and Gopal Gehlot too. Congress was not even firm on its promise of not giving tickets to those who have lost the elections two times. By giving tickets to State President Chandrabhan and Meenakshi Chandrawat Congress went back on its own word.
Congress said that those who are holding offices in State Congress won’t be given ticket in elections, they’ll work for organisation. Still tickets were given to State President of Congress Chandrabhan, Vice President Ramchandra Saradhana, General Secretary Pankaj, Secretary Archana Verma, Vikram Singh Shekhawat, Meenakshi Chandrawat and Sohan Nayak even though they holding offices in State Congress. Sticking to its announcement of not giving ticket to MPs, Congress has given tickets to son of MP of Sikar, Mahadev Singh Khandela, wife of the brother of MP of Jaipur rural Lalchand Kataria and wife of Raghuveer Meena.
Fed up of mis-governance people hope for good governance
Rajasthan’s people were already fed up with the corruption cases during last five years, now inflation and unemployment has added fuel to the fire. Due to the unusual hike in the daily use items people are cursing the Congress Government. It’s is worth mentioning that after coming in power CM Ashok Gehlot assured 1 lakh government jobs to youth but even after five years his assurance is still nothing more than an assurance. Unemployment is constantly increasing in the youth of State, last year for 150 fourth grade vacancies of Secretariat four lakh youth applied. Even those people who are having the degrees of MBA, Engineering and B.Ed. but are unemployed applied for the post. The youth of the State is saying that leaving the technical faults in the recruitment for various posts Congress Government took the issues to court and dashed the dreams of youths to ground. Angry with the mis-governance of Congress, the youth are looking for the opportunity of a golden future in BJP. Last time in BJP Government more than 1 lakh youth were given jobs in education department. The youth has made up its mind to vote for BJP in these VidhanSabha elections.
Minorities too with BJP
In the State Minorities and Jats are believed to be Congress-supporters. Nathuram Mirgha, Daulatram Saran, Kummaram Arya, Parasram Maderana, Sheeshram Ola, Natwar Singh, Colonel Sonaram and Dr. Hari Singh are counted among senior Jat leaders of the State. Everybody, not just Rajasthan, is aware of their political genius. With the rise of Ashok Gehlot in politics the stalwart Jat leaders lost their prominence. Jat community holds Ashok Gehlot responsible for this. Considering Ashok Gehlot a threat to their existence Jat community has made up its mind to help the BJP behind the curtain. Jats have made up their mind to defeat the Congress.
Along with Jats Congress also considers minorities to be its powerful vote bank. It was a reality too; but in last five years, during Congress Government, the cases like that of Gopalgarh, Soorwal and Bheelwada District’s Kalandari Masjid case have made minorities lose their faith in Congress. Due to Gopalgarh case not just minorities but even Hindus are infuriated at Congress. On various occasions minority community’s people have publicly, from stage, have said of teaching a lesson to Congress. In such a situation it is being believed that minority votes are surely going to get divided. Clearly BJP is going to get its direct benefit.
Saffron Wave in the State
The nationwide enthusiasm for BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Shri Narendra Modi will also benefit BJP. In State, on one hand there’s a Vasundhara wave going on, on the other there’s a lot of enthusiasm in the youth who like Modi. Due to the economic policies of Congress, unemployment and inflation the youth of the State is very much against Congress, BJP is surely going to get its benefit.
Congress is claiming victory in these Rajasthan VidhanSabha elections, but election surveys, the anger towards Congress in people, the enthusiasm in youth for BJP are concrete evidences that this time Congress won’t be able to form the government. Due to reasons like cases of sexual assault on the three senior most Ministers of State Congress, increase in criminal cases in State, increasing unemployment in youth, leaving the development projects midway, disturbed communal harmony, this time Rajasthan people are not in the favour of voting the ‘hand’ of Congress. People are not in favour of Congress Government which failed to fulfill its election promises last time. Pre Poll surveys are also saying so. If we look from 1993 then no party has repeated its tenure in Rajasthan. According to election analysts BJP is going to get 120 to 125 seats, whereas Congress is expected to get 60 seats. Rest will go to independent candidates.
Five failures of Rajasthan Government
p Out of 13 schemes run by Centre Government, 11 are left unfinished in Rajasthan.
p Social harmony has dilapidated in the State. In last 5 years 24 riots took place and tensions were there in 80 places.
p Three ex Ministers of the Government, Mahipal Maderana, Malkhan Singh Bishnoi and Babulal Nagar are in the jail in the cases of sexual assaults. Maderana is also facing the charges of murder; this has ruined the image of Congress.
p At the rate of 24.13 percent the financial crimes are number one in Rajasthan, in the whole country.
p Youth are angry at Congress due to increasing unemployment in the State; the promise of giving jobs to 1 lakh people has not been fulfilled.
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