Ticket Distribution In Rajasthan: BJP Plans Giving Tough Fight To CM Ashok Gehlot, Congress Emphasises Winnability

While the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) first candidate list in the electoral state of Rajasthan may have 39 names, the Congress is said to have finalised 30 names, NDTV reported.

However, the Congress is likely to release its list after the BJP does. And the BJP is likely to disclose candidate names after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jodhpur on 5 October.

The Congress is set to cut tickets of many ministers to fight anti-incumbency and reportedly, the ministers were informed about it in the Sunday cabinet meeting.

Also, think tanks associated with the Congress recommend changing candidates in at least 90 seats, although it remains uncertain whether the party will heed this advice.

While the Congress plans to ride elections on the popularity of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the BJP is planning to give a tough fight to the CM in his constituency Sardarpura, where he has comfortably secured victory in the last four elections.

The BJP may field Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat against Gehlot in Jodhpur district's Sardarpura. Shekhawat, the MP from Jodhpur, previously defeated Gehlot's son Vaibhav Gehlot in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Another possibility is that former CM Vasundhara Raje can be asked to directly confront Gehlot. However, it is unlikely that she will leave her stronghold Jhalrapatan, a constituency in Jhalawar district that Raje has represented since 2003.

The BJP also seems to be deploying MPs to contest MLA elections in challenging constituencies.

There are indications that Rajsamand MP Diya Kumari might be tasked with challenging Rajasthan Speaker CP Joshi in the Nathdwara assembly seat within her Rajsamand Lok Sabha constituency.

On the other hand, Congress leader and former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot emphasised that the allocation of party tickets for the upcoming assembly elections will prioritise candidates with a high likelihood of winning.

The Tonk MLA outlined that the party will prioritise youths, minorities, and members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and the Other Backward Class in ticket distribution. However, he underscored that the factor of winnability cannot be overlooked.

Pilot assured that this time, ticket allotment would be purely based on merit, aiming to eliminate potential disputes. He stated that the Congress party would distribute tickets to individuals actively engaged on the ground, increasing the chances of victory.