The Election Commission of India has rescheduled the Rajasthan polls from November 23 to November 25 due to a large number of weddings taking place in the state. This alteration in the schedule has presented both the Congress and the BJP with twin challenges of infighting and anti-incumbency. The infighting within the state BJP is evident from the protests carried out by BJP ticket aspirants and their supporters, particularly five candidates who were denied tickets. In one instance, supporters of a disgruntled BJP leader even burned party flags to show their dissatisfaction. While it is common for disappointment to arise after the denial of tickets, the situation in the BJP is more serious, particularly for PM Narendra Modi, as they aim for a third term in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election in 2024. This is especially crucial since the BJP won all 25 seats from Rajasthan in the previous election. To contain the infighting within the state BJP, the central leadership has refrained from projecting a chief minister face. Instead, the concept of collective leadership has been introduced, with PM Modi serving as the party’s face for the Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha election, which has 200 seats.
Addressing the unrest within the BJP over ticket distribution, Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal stated, “A team has been formed for damage control. The team is led by MoS Kailash Choudhary. I have also spoken with 8-10 people. We hold daily reviews and will take any necessary actions.” PM Narendra Modi, as the mascot of the BJP, faces a certain level of anti-incumbency. In addition to anti-incumbency, the BJP also faces a united opposition from the Congress, particularly following a truce between CM Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot. Moreover, the BJP leadership must work diligently to convince people that the Congress government in the state did not fulfill their needs, even though various pro-people schemes were implemented by the Ashok Gehlot government, including the right to free treatment To counter the Congress’ promise of a Caste Census, the BJP has planned to allocate a large number of tickets to OBC candidates. However, people may prioritize the Congress’ reservation pledge over the BJP’s OBC identity politics.
While the Congress has a strong organizational presence in the state, matching the RSS-BJP’s reach at the booth level, their main challenge lies in minimizing the division of anti-BJP votes, considering the presence of opposition parties like AAP, SP, RLD, and BSP in the election. Though infighting within the Congress has been subdued in recent weeks, it may resurface after ticket distribution. To avoid protests similar to those witnessed in the BJP, the Congress must handle the distribution process carefully. The BJP has been capitalizing on the infighting within the Congress, claiming that Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot were engaged in a five-year-long struggle for dominance within the state, forgetting the importance of governance. On the other hand, the BJP asserts that there is no infighting in the party, and both factions, led by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Vasundhara Raje, are working together collectively to decide on tickets. The Congress needs to counter this narrative and demonstrate that the party stands united, while the BJP remains divided.
