KOLKATA: Rajasthan is gearing up for a high-stakes Assembly poll tomorrow, featuring a fierce showdown between the Congress seeking to secure a second consecutive term and the BJP striving to reclaim its lost power from the previous term.
Continuing the jinx of no party repeating its governing term twice, the 2018 Rajasthan Assembly elections saw the Congress securing 99 seats out of the 200, while the BJP managed to clinch only 73 seats.
This marked a significant departure from the 2013 elections when the BJP, under the leadership of Vasundhara Raje, won 163 seats, defeating the incumbent Congress led by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
The 2013 elections were noteworthy not just for the change in power dynamics but also for the record-breaking voter turnout, reaching an impressive 75.76 per cent. In the subsequent 2008 Assembly elections, the BJP, then in power, was ousted by the Congress.
As Rajasthan braces for the 2023 Assembly polls, a staggering 1,900 candidates are vying for the 199 seats up for grabs. Unfortunately, the election in the Karanpur constituency will be incomplete due to the unfortunate demise of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar.
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With a substantial voter base of 52.5 million, including 27.3 million men and 25.2 million women, and 51,033 voters above 80, along with 11,894 disabled voters, the state anticipates a crucial role for women in deciding the electoral outcome. Psephologist Pradeep Bhandari emphasised the decisive influence of women voters in Indian elections, citing examples from past elections.
The poll-bound state of Rajasthan, set for a single-phase election on November 25, has witnessed a substantial influx of freebies and items seized, amounting to a staggering Rs 341 crore. Notably, Telangana leads in the seizure of drugs with a recovery worth 103 crore, followed closely by Rajasthan at Rs 91 crore.
As the state enters the silence period ahead of the Assembly polls, the political landscape is charged with anticipation and speculation. The outcome of this high-stakes battle will not only determine the next government but also set the tone for the political trajectory in Rajasthan.