Jaipur : Even before the counting of votes for the assembly elections in Rajasthan begins, the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP have started targeting rebels and independents. Both parties hope that rebels and independents will join their camp. At the same time, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and opposition leader Vasundhara Raje Scindia met Governor Kalraj Mishra.
Counting of votes for 199 assembly seats today
According to media reports, the ruling Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Rajasthan have started contacting rebel and strong looking independent candidates before the counting of votes. Counting of votes in 199 assembly seats in Rajasthan will take place on Sunday. A total of 1862 candidates are trying their electoral luck on these seats. Both the major parties of the state have made full preparations to ensure that the independent and rebel candidates who win the elections come to their camp.
BJP-Congress clash in Rajasthan
If exit poll predictions are to be believed, this time there seems to be a tough fight between Congress and BJP in the state. If any one party does not get majority, then the role of independent and rebel candidates will become important. In this assembly election, there are about 40 candidates from both the parties who have contested the election as rebels after not getting party tickets.
Vasundhara-Gehlot met Kalraj Mishra
Before counting of votes, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot met Governor Kalraj Mishra. This meeting took place after the exit poll predictions were released. After this, former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje also met the Governor. While most exit polls have predicted a lead for the BJP in the state, three exit polls have predicted a victory for the Congress. Leaders of both Congress and BJP have claimed to form the government of their respective parties.
Congress in contact with independents and rebels
Congress sources once again expressed confidence of the party forming the government and said that the party leaders are in touch with independent and rebel candidates. Similarly, BJP sources also said that the leaders are contacting the party rebels who had contested the elections as independents. These parties are exploring the possibilities of post-poll alliance with the rebels as well as with smaller parties if needed. However, all this exercise will depend on the results of the elections.
These parties are also being monitored
Other parties contesting elections in Rajasthan include Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP), Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP), Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) and CPI(M). BJP has not made any pre-poll alliance in this election. At the same time, Congress has left one seat (Bharatpur) for its ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD).
Who are the rebels contesting elections from where?
BJP’s rebel candidates include Chandrabhan Singh Akya (Chittorgarh), Yunus Khan (Deedwana), Kailash Meghwal (Shahpura), Asha Meena (Sawai Madhopur), Ashu Singh Surpura (Jhotwara), Rohitashv Sharma (Bansur). At the same time, rebel candidates of Congress include Virendra Beniwal (Lunkaransar), Gopal Baheti (Pushkar), Ramchandra Saradhana (Virat Nagar) etc.
Congress had won in the 2018 elections
Let us tell you that in the 2018 assembly elections, Congress had won 99 out of 199 seats and formed the government. At the same time, its ally RLD also won one seat. Congress later won one seat (Ramgarh) where elections were held later due to the demise of the BSP candidate. In September 2019, all six BSP MLAs joined the Congress, strengthening the Congress’s position in the assembly. This time too, elections were held on 199 out of 200 seats in the state. The election on Karanpur seat of the state has been postponed due to the death of the Congress candidate.