POLITICS
‘Gehlot se bair nahin, MLAs ki khair nahin’— why Congress’s bet on incumbents could backfire
- Admin
- Oct 27, 2023
‘Gehlot se bair nahin, MLAs ki khair nahin’— why Congress’s bet on incumbents could backfire
CM Gehlot’s welfare schemes are popular, but Congress’s decision to field many sitting MLAs is causing discontent, including in east Rajasthan where party won 49 of its 100 seats in 2018.
Sawai Madhopur/Dausa/Karauli: One slogan captured the essence of public sentiment in the 2018 Rajasthan assembly elections: Modi tujhse bair nahi, Vasundhara teri khair nahi (Modi, we have no grudge against you, but Vasundhara, beware). Now, a similar slogan is gaining traction as the state readies for the 2023 polls: Gehlot tujhse bair nahi, Vidayak teri khair nahi (Gehlot, we have no grudge against you, but MLAs, beware).
Back in 2018, anti-incumbency sentiments against then-chief minister Vasundhara Raje led to the BJP’s downfall, reducing them to a mere 73 seats in the 200-member Rajasthan assembly, a big drop from their 2013 victory of 163 seats.
Despite this, Gehlot has taken the gamble of retaining a large share of sitting MLAs for the November elections.In its first list of 33 candidates, released last Saturday, the Congress gave tickets to 29 incumbent MLAs. Its second list of 43 candidates, which came out Sunday, included 15 sitting legislators. In the Congress’s third list of 19 candidates, out Thursday, the party retained 12 MLAs. So far, out of 30 ministers, 21 have received party tickets.
One of the epicentres of the state’s electoral battle is eastern Rajasthan, which played a key role in the Congress’s return to power in 2018.
Of the region’s 83 assembly seats in 13 districts, the Congress won 49 while the BJP secured 25 in the 2018 elections.
In just five districts here— Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, Dholpur, and Bharatpur—the Congress won 35 out of 39 seats, making up over a third of its total tally of 100.This arid expanse is once again the centrepiece of the Congress’s campaign, especially its demand for national status for the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) to address the region’s irrigation and drinking water issues.
However, when ThePrint visited Sawai Madhopur, Dausa, Karauli districts this week, the prevailing sentiment on the ground was clear—while Gehlot has performed satisfactorily as Chief Minister, the MLAs have failed to meet expectations.
“We are giving our vote to the BJP, not because of Modi, but because we need a change of candidate,” emphasised farmer Batti Lal Meena of Bagdi village in Dausa.However, a senior Rajasthan Congress minister told The Print that the decision to field incumbents was a matter of political compulsion, stemming from the 2020 revolt led by former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot against Gehlot. The rebellion was quelled after many MLAs and the high command aligned with Gehlot.
“Gehlot has stuck to his commitment made during the revolt, strategically retaining sitting MLAs by promising to keep them if the government survives. Any betrayal would likely lead to unrest and rebellion,”
“The BJP seems to be losing momentum day by day, which is why they are involving agencies like the Enforcement Directorate,” he added, referring to the central agency raiding properties of Congress state chief Govind Singh Dotasra Thursday and issuing a summons to Gehlot’s son Vaibhav. Notably, Pilot spoke out in support of both at a press conference.
Despite this, Gehlot has taken the gamble of retaining a large share of sitting MLAs for the November elections.In its first list of 33 candidates, released last Saturday, the Congress gave tickets to 29 incumbent MLAs. Its second list of 43 candidates, which came out Sunday, included 15 sitting legislators. In the Congress’s third list of 19 candidates, out Thursday, the party retained 12 MLAs. So far, out of 30 ministers, 21 have received party tickets.
One of the epicentres of the state’s electoral battle is eastern Rajasthan, which played a key role in the Congress’s return to power in 2018.
Of the region’s 83 assembly seats in 13 districts, the Congress won 49 while the BJP secured 25 in the 2018 elections.
In just five districts here— Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, Dholpur, and Bharatpur—the Congress won 35 out of 39 seats, making up over a third of its total tally of 100.This arid expanse is once again the centrepiece of the Congress’s campaign, especially its demand for national status for the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) to address the region’s irrigation and drinking water issues.
However, when ThePrint visited Sawai Madhopur, Dausa, Karauli districts this week, the prevailing sentiment on the ground was clear—while Gehlot has performed satisfactorily as Chief Minister, the MLAs have failed to meet expectations.
“We are giving our vote to the BJP, not because of Modi, but because we need a change of candidate,” emphasised farmer Batti Lal Meena of Bagdi village in Dausa.However, a senior Rajasthan Congress minister told The Print that the decision to field incumbents was a matter of political compulsion, stemming from the 2020 revolt led by former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot against Gehlot. The rebellion was quelled after many MLAs and the high command aligned with Gehlot.
“Gehlot has stuck to his commitment made during the revolt, strategically retaining sitting MLAs by promising to keep them if the government survives. Any betrayal would likely lead to unrest and rebellion,”
“The BJP seems to be losing momentum day by day, which is why they are involving agencies like the Enforcement Directorate,” he added, referring to the central agency raiding properties of Congress state chief Govind Singh Dotasra Thursday and issuing a summons to Gehlot’s son Vaibhav. Notably, Pilot spoke out in support of both at a press conference.
‘Gehlot is good, but not his MLAs’
When Congress MLA Danish Abrar visited his constituency Sawai Madhopur last week, he was welcomed with black flags, and some people even threw stones at his vehicle.
Yet, despite reportedly facing strong anti-incumbency and resistance even from within the party, Abrar has been chosen yet again as the Congress candidate from Sawai Madhopur.
Abrar, a trusted aide of Gehlot, was earlier part of the Rajasthan Congress’s Sachin Pilot camp.
Abrar’s switch to the other side, which helped save the Gehlot government in 2020, has irked many in the Gurjar community, to which Pilot belongs. The stone-pelters reportedly called him a “traitor”. Gurjars comprise about 9 percent of the state’s population and primarily wield influence in eastern Rajasthan. While Gehlot has repeatedly mentioned Abrar’s contributions in his public speeches, the MLA seems to have lost popularity among not just Gurjars but also the Meena community in his constituency.
In the district’s Menpura village, a few farmers sipping tea at a small roadside stall did not mince words.
“Gehlot has done good work, but his MLA has done nothing. He hasn’t even come to a Meena village to say hello in these five years, let alone solve our problems,” claimed farmer Pyare Lal Meena.
Another farmer, Sanwar Lal Meena, nodded in agreement. “Last time, I voted for Congress candidate Danish Abrar, but this time I will vote for change. Gehlot is good, but not his MLA,”In Ajnoti, another village in Sawai Madhopur, resident Babulal Meena was just as sceptical: “Gehlot’s scheme of waiving electricity bills has benefited farmers and reduced their bills, but we won’t vote for his MLA; he only cares about his own community.”
Abrar denies such allegations. “I have worked for every community in the last five years, and I am confident that the Congress will win this seat with the support of everyone. We hope to repeat our performance of 2018 in this election,”
In Dausa district’s Lalsot assembly constituency, the incumbent MLA, state health minister, Parsadi Lal Meena, is contesting this year too.
The six-time Congress MLA has had only two defeats, in 2003 and 2013—when Kirodi Lal Meena, then contesting on a National People’s Party ticket but now in the BJP, won.
When Congress MLA Danish Abrar visited his constituency Sawai Madhopur last week, he was welcomed with black flags, and some people even threw stones at his vehicle.
Yet, despite reportedly facing strong anti-incumbency and resistance even from within the party, Abrar has been chosen yet again as the Congress candidate from Sawai Madhopur.
Abrar, a trusted aide of Gehlot, was earlier part of the Rajasthan Congress’s Sachin Pilot camp.
Abrar’s switch to the other side, which helped save the Gehlot government in 2020, has irked many in the Gurjar community, to which Pilot belongs. The stone-pelters reportedly called him a “traitor”. Gurjars comprise about 9 percent of the state’s population and primarily wield influence in eastern Rajasthan. While Gehlot has repeatedly mentioned Abrar’s contributions in his public speeches, the MLA seems to have lost popularity among not just Gurjars but also the Meena community in his constituency.
In the district’s Menpura village, a few farmers sipping tea at a small roadside stall did not mince words.
“Gehlot has done good work, but his MLA has done nothing. He hasn’t even come to a Meena village to say hello in these five years, let alone solve our problems,” claimed farmer Pyare Lal Meena.
Another farmer, Sanwar Lal Meena, nodded in agreement. “Last time, I voted for Congress candidate Danish Abrar, but this time I will vote for change. Gehlot is good, but not his MLA,”In Ajnoti, another village in Sawai Madhopur, resident Babulal Meena was just as sceptical: “Gehlot’s scheme of waiving electricity bills has benefited farmers and reduced their bills, but we won’t vote for his MLA; he only cares about his own community.”
Abrar denies such allegations. “I have worked for every community in the last five years, and I am confident that the Congress will win this seat with the support of everyone. We hope to repeat our performance of 2018 in this election,”
In Dausa district’s Lalsot assembly constituency, the incumbent MLA, state health minister, Parsadi Lal Meena, is contesting this year too.
The six-time Congress MLA has had only two defeats, in 2003 and 2013—when Kirodi Lal Meena, then contesting on a National People’s Party ticket but now in the BJP, won.
