Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP aims for clean sweep in Rajasthan as Congress seeks a reversal of fortunes

Eyeing a repeat of its 2019 electoral success, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is setting its sights on winning all 25 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Rajasthan. Despite losing the state assembly elections to the Congress in December 2018 and being in the opposition, the BJP managed to secure 24 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, with the remaining seat going to its ally, the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP). Now in power in Rajasthan, the BJP is looking to maintain its momentum.

Congress' Hopes Amidst Past Losses
The Congress, which secured a majority of assembly seats in eastern Rajasthan in the 2018 polls, faced a setback in the subsequent parliamentary elections. The Gurjar community, particularly influential in the region, had supported the Congress in the assembly polls, expecting Sachin Pilot, a Gurjar leader, to become the state's chief minister. However, when this did not materialize, the Congress saw a decline in support, leading to the BJP's dominance in the Lok Sabha polls.


Key Battlegrounds and Margins
In the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP secured wins with varying margins in different regions. For instance, Jaskaur Meena won from Dausa with a margin of 78,444 votes, while Manoj Rajoria secured the Karauli-Dholpur seat with a margin of 97,682 votes. Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria won Tonk-Sawai Madhopur with a margin of 1,11,291 votes. Notably, Pilot's victory in Tonk in 2018 did not translate into a win for the Congress in the corresponding Lok Sabha seat.

Congress' Setbacks in Marwar and Jodhpur
The Congress faced a significant defeat in Jodhpur in the parliamentary elections, where Vaibhav Gehlot, son of then-chief minister Ashok Gehlot, lost to the BJP's Gajendra Shekhawat by 2,74,440 votes. Shekhawat, a Union minister, is contesting again from Jodhpur in 2024, aiming to retain his seat.

Alliance Dynamics and New Contenders
The BJP had left one seat, Nagaur, for its ally Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) in 2019, which was won by Hanuman Beniwal. Jyoti Mirdha, who lost to Beniwal, has since joined the BJP and is contesting from Nagaur in the upcoming polls. The BJP's alliance with the RLP ended in 2020 over differences regarding the farmers' protest.

Impact of Regional Parties
In the Mewar region, the Bhartiya Tribal Party, a new entrant in 2018, won two assembly seats, affecting both the Congress and the BJP. However, the BJP managed to sway voters in its favor in the subsequent Lok Sabha polls, securing significant wins in Banswara, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, and Rajsamand.

Strongholds and Influences
The BJP retained its stronghold in the Hadoti region, winning the Kota-Bundi and Jhalawar-Baran seats comfortably. Dushyant Singh, son of former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, won his seat with a margin of 4,53,928 votes. In northern Rajasthan and the Shekhawati region, the BJP secured wins with margins close to three lakhs in each seat.

As the BJP aims for a clean sweep in Rajasthan, the Congress is strategizing to reverse its electoral fortunes. The upcoming Lok Sabha polls in the state are poised to be a battleground for political dominance, with both parties gearing up for a fierce contest.