Rajasthan Election 2018: Third front readies to capture Congress vote

JAIPUR: Hopes of a third front in Rajasthan have been rekindled after the BSP ruled out an alliance with the Congress. An alliance of six parties called the United Democratic Front has shown interest in forging ties with BSP.

State secretary of CPM, Amraram, which is part of UDF that includesSP, CPI, JDS, CPIML and MCPIU, told ET that the front is open to alliance with any party that can fight the Congress and the BJP.

“We have identified a few seats where parties in our front are strong. In the remaining seats, we are in talks with other like-minded groups,” he said.


“BSP and Congress share a common vote bank. BJP has never had of BSP. But Congress will feel the heat in at least 5-6 seats where BSP would damage its prospects,” said BJP leader and Jaipur mayor Ashok Lahoty.

In 2013, BJP won 163 seats with 45.5% votes, while Congress despite securing 33.31% could win only 21 seats. Smaller parties, including BSP and UDF members, had managed to secure a portion of the remaining 21.2%. BSP had secured 3.48% votes, CPM 4.46% votes and Conrad Sangma’s NPP 6.41%.

NPP had Kirori Lal Meena as state president. He is currently a Rajya Sabha MP of the BJP.

BSP, which has performed extremely well in unreserved seats, is silent about its plans. There are 33 reserved constituencies for Scheduled Castes, where BSP has failed to secure even the second spot.

Since 1998, when it opened its account in Rajasthan by winning two seats, BSP has won a total of 13 assembly seats.

Out of these, the party won 12 unreserved constituencies, while in 2008, Ramesh Meena won Sapotara, reserved for tribals.

In 2013, BSP won three seats, was runner-up in 5 and bagged the third position in 20 seats. BSP voters comprise Dalits and Backwards, who traditionally vote for Congress.