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Rajasthan Civic Polls: Udaipur BJP Strong; Jodhpur & Pali Close Contest
Ground Report Shekhawat, Gehlot in close contest in Jodhpur: Rebels pose threat to BJP in Udaipur; independents key in Rathore’s Pali
Jaideep Purohit | Jodhpur 19 days ago
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Jodhpur Municipal Corporation has 100 wards, while Udaipur has 80 and Pali has 65. As things stand, Jodhpur and Pali are witnessing a close contest between the Congress and BJP, while the BJP appears stronger in Udaipur. However, none of the three contests is likely to be one-sided.
In Jodhpur, the reputations of Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for the BJP and three-time former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for the Congress are at stake.
In Udaipur, the brothers of the two sons-in-law of veteran leader and Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria are in the fray. The BJP has held the civic board for six consecutive terms, but a dozen Congress rebels have made the contest tougher.
In Pali, BJP state president Madan Singh Rathore’s reputation is at stake. Several senior party leaders are either contesting as rebels or fighting on tickets from rival parties. However, the BJP has some relief as the Congress has no candidate in six wards.
Jodhpur
Contest between Shekhawat and Ashok Gehlot
The Jodhpur contest appears to have turned into a battle between Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. The two parties are locked in a close fight.
BJP MLAs Atul Bhansali and Devendra Joshi are also putting their full strength behind efforts to form the civic board. This time, the Union Minister also had a say in lobbying for tickets. Shekhawat attended the divisional meeting in Jaipur held before the distribution of tickets.
In the Congress camp, former JDA chairman Rajendra Solanki, considered close to Gehlot, and former MLA Manisha Panwar are leading the campaign from the front. However, the overall election management is being handled behind the scenes by former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
This time, both parties have assigned responsibilities on an Assembly constituency-wise basis, including responsibility for ticket distribution and winning the wards. In the wards falling under Sardarpura Assembly constituency, considered Gehlot’s stronghold, the BJP has entrusted former JDA chairman Mahendra Rathore with the responsibility. Congress has put Rajendra Solanki in charge.
The Congress has a strong hold among minority and SC-ST voters, while the BJP is banking on general-category voters. The Gehlot factor has led to OBC voters being divided between the two parties.
However, the fact that the election is being held for a single corporation will make things more challenging for the Congress, as there were two corporations in the previous election. The BJP controlled one and the Congress the other. At the time, when the Congress was in power in the state, allegations of bias were levelled over the delimitation of wards.
Caste factor
OBC voters are expected to determine the outcome in around 25% of Jodhpur Municipal Corporation’s seats. The group includes communities such as Mali, Jat and Ghanchi. At present, both parties appear to be drawing equally from this caste-based vote bank.
Three key civic issues
Door-to-door waste collection and garbage piling up in the old city.
Ageing sewerage lines and leakage problems.
Pollution: despite schemes being introduced, the problem remains unresolved.
Udaipur
Veteran leaders and their close aides in fray
With the mayoral post being an open seat, several prominent leaders and their relatives have entered the electoral contest. Atul Chandalia and Akash Vagarecha, the brothers of the two sons-in-law of Mewar veteran and Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, are contesting for councillor posts.
Former city BJP president Dinesh Bhatt, state cooperative convenor Pramod Samar, former deputy mayor Paras Singhvi and Mahendra Singh Shekhawat are also in the fray. From the Congress, the candidates include Dr Poonam Kunwar, wife of city president Fateh Singh Rathore, and former mayoral candidate Arun Tank.
The reputations of Udaipur MP Dr Mannalal Rawat, city MLA Tarachand Jain, rural MLA Phoolsingh Meena and city BJP president Gajpal Singh Rathore are at stake. On the Congress side, city president Fateh Singh Rathore is leading the campaign in urban wards, while rural district president and former MP Raghuveer Singh Meena is handling the rural wards.
The BJP managed to accommodate different factions while distributing tickets. People close to Udaipur city president Gajpal Singh Rathore, BJP MPs and MLAs, as well as members of the Gulab Chand Kataria camp, have received tickets. In the Congress, Raghuveer Meena and city president Fateh Singh Rathore distributed tickets in consultation with state leaders.
Rebel factor
The Congress managed to persuade 10 of its 22 rebels to withdraw, but 12 rebels remain a major challenge. The BJP, meanwhile, has only one rebel in the fray, from a ward belonging to Udaipur Rural MLA Phoolsingh Meena.
The BJP is claiming it will form the board for the seventh consecutive time. Congress district president Fateh Singh Rathore, however, says the Ayad river and the alleged 272-plot scam will be major issues and that voters will bring about a change.
Caste factor
Jains and Brahmins form sizeable communities here and may traditionally vote as a bloc. Muslims are the next significant voter group and determine the electoral arithmetic in some wards. OBCs, Rajputs and Sindhis also have an influence and can play a decisive role in individual wards.
Biggest civic issues
The long-pending promise to beautify the Ayad river remains unfulfilled.
Traffic congestion is a major problem, while demands for elevated roads and flyovers in several areas remain pending.
Cleanliness and waste disposal are major concerns in the tourism city, with no technical system in place to address complaints.
Pali
No Congress candidate in six wards
The Congress has no candidate in six wards of Pali Municipal Corporation. Party symbols were not submitted for three wards, while nominations in another three were rejected. In Ward 55, the Congress candidate joined the BJP. This has weakened the Congress challenge right from the start.
The BJP could gain a lead from these seven wards. However, the party is also facing a tough challenge after former chairman (2007) Rakesh Bhati joined the Congress before filing his nomination. Bhati is contesting from Ward 32.
The denial of tickets to old leaders in both parties has strengthened the rebel factor. There is talk that neither party will be able to form the board in Pali without the support of Independents.
Former BJP MLA Gyan Chand Parakh, district president Sunil Bhandari and MP PP Chaudhary are handling the party’s election management. With Pali being state president Madan Rathore’s home district, his reputation is also at stake. Rathore is continuously gathering feedback from the ground.
On the Congress side, district president Shishupal Singh Nimbada and MLA Bheemraj Bhati are overseeing election management at the grassroots level. Former Lok Sabha candidate Sangeeta Beniwal, former chairman Pradeep Hingad, city president Hakim Bhai and PCC member Mahavir Singh Sukarlai are also campaigning actively.
Caste factor
OBC voters form the largest voter group in Pali Municipal Corporation and are expected to decide the outcome. They include communities such as Sirvi, Vaishnav, Ghanchi, Mali, Kumawat, Suthar and Prajapat. Some wards have a sizeable minority population, where the Congress has traditionally held sway. Several wards also have a significant Jain minority, which is considered part of the BJP’s core vote base.
Biggest civic issues
Stray cattle on the streets and a menace of stray dogs in residential areas.
Incomplete sewerage work and poor waste disposal in neighbourhoods.
Residents are troubled by damaged roads and chaotic traffic management.