November 25th 2023.
Rajasthan is all set to go to the polls on Saturday, November 25, with a significant challenge for the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP in 20 constituencies.
This is due to the presence of rebel candidates from both parties. The elections will take place in 199 out of 200 assembly seats. The Karanpur constituency has been adjourned due to the passing of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar.
Prominent candidates in the fray include Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, former CM Vasundhara Raje, former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot, Congress national spokesperson Gourav Vallabh, Union Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore, Vishwaraj Singh Mewar, Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi, and Rajasthan LoP Rajendra Rathore.
Around 45 rebel candidates from both parties are in the fray. These include MLAs, former MLAs and party officials. BJP and Congress have both sought to persuade their respective rebel candidates to withdraw their names.
BJP and Congress are engaged in an intense fight in the state, with both parties seeking to outdo each other in terms of poll promises. The role of smaller parties is also crucial. BSP has won seats in the state. Aam Aadmi Party is also in the fray. The smaller parties include the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, Bharatiya Adivasi Party, CPI-M, Jannayak Janata Party and Azad Samaj Party.
Violence against women, paper leak scam, farmers' suicides are some of the key issues that were highlighted by the opposition BJP to strike against the ruling Congress. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his campaigning in the state hit out at the Congress leadership, accusing it of indulging in 'dynastic' politics and said that the grand old party strives to 'punish' its leader Sachin Pilot for his father's revolt against high command in 1996.
To woo the voters, both parties brought in their star campaigners at public rallies and roadshows in different parts of the state. The BJP's manifesto outlines several key resolutions including the implementation of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Laho Incentive Scheme, Direct Benefit Transfer and Bhamashah Health Infrastructure Mission.
The Congress manifesto promises to hold a caste-based census, a new scheme for recruitment at the panchayat level and enactment of a law to implement the minimum support price for farmers in the state among other guarantees.
Adequate security arrangements have been made to ensure peaceful and fair elections. A total of 5,26,90,146 voters will decide the fate of the candidates at a total of 51,890 polling stations. 1,70,99,334 young voters in the 18-30 age group will vote, including 22,61,008 new voters in the 18-19 age group.
Over 3 lakh people have already exercised their franchise via postal ballot ahead of the polls. A total of 1,02,290 security personnel have been deployed to ensure peaceful voting.
The counting of votes will be done on December 3.
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