Virendra Arya
Jaipur : In the Rajasthan Assembly elections, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) has fielded saints and mahants in 4 districts including Jaipur. These are affecting 35 seats in these four districts. BJP hopes to get the benefit of polarization of Hindu votes on these seats. BJP has also organized more than 7 meetings of Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath to strengthen its vote bank in Rajasthan. BJP has made polarization of votes the main method of its campaign here. If we look at the Rajasthan Assembly constituencies, in the four districts where Sant-Mahants have been fielded, 19 seats in Jaipur, 11 in Alwar, 3 in Sirohi and 2 in Jaisalmer are being affected. The influence of Mahant, who descended from Pokaran in Jaisalmer, is also falling on Barmer district. There are 7 seats in Barmer district.
Balaknath, MP from Tijara, Alwar
Among the four MPs fielded by BJP in its very first list, Baba Balaknath was made the MLA candidate from Tijara seat of Alwar. Balaknath is the MP of this district. Congress has given ticket to Imran Khan by including him in its party from BSP. Imran had lost the last Lok Sabha election from BSP and was at third position. Yogi Adityanath himself was present during the filing of Balaknath’s nomination. About 39 year old Balaknath is a yogi of Nath sect. Baba Balaknath is also called ‘Yogi of Rajasthan’ by the local people. He is the Mahant of Bohar, the biggest seat of Nath sect located in Rohtak. Balaknath was born in a farmer family in Kohrana village of Alwar district.
Mahant Pratap Puri from Pokaran, Jaisalmer
Pokaran of Jaisalmer is known for nuclear testing. From here, BJP has given a chance to Mahant Pratappuri, who had lost in the last assembly elections by a few votes, around 872. In front of him is Saleh Mohammad, cabinet minister of the Ashok Gehlot government of the Congress, who is the son of Ghazi Fakir, a religious leader of the Sindhi-Muslim sect. Pratappuri is the head of Taratara Math and this math is also very active in Barmer area. Due to Pratappuri, Hindu-Muslim color can be seen on the seats of Jaisalmer and Barmer.
Bal Mukund Acharya from Hawamahal, Jaipur
BJP has declared Bal Mukund Acharya as its candidate from Hawamahal seat of Jaipur. He is the Mahant of Hathoj Dham of Jaipur. In the last few years, many movements were carried out against the atrocities being committed on Hindus and the issue of Hindu migration was also highlighted here. Playing the religious card, BJP has fielded Bal Mukund Acharya for the first time. In front of them, Congress has removed Cabinet Minister Mahesh Joshi and given ticket to RR Tiwari, who is contesting the elections for the first time. Balmukund Acharya claims that earlier there were hundreds of temples at many places in the old city (parkota) of Jaipur, which were destroyed. They also have proof of this. He claims that he will bring every temple back into existence. Balmukand Acharya Maharaj is the head of All India Sant Samaj Rajasthan.
Sirohi to Otram Dewasi
After this, BJP has declared Otram Dewasi as its candidate from Sirohi assembly seat. He is the Mahant of Mundara Mata Temple. Dewasi has also been a minister in BJP’s Vasundhara Raje government. Dewasi was earlier a police constable, later chose the path of spirituality and became a devotee of Mother Chamunda. Congress has fielded Gehlot’s close aide and advisor Sanyam Lodha on this seat. Sanyam’s ticket was rejected last time and he won as an independent and supported Congress.