BJP repeats Gujarat model to beat anti-incumbency

NEW DELHI: The Gujarat formula for beating the anti-incumbency has been replicated by the BJP with gusto in the ongoing round of assembly polls. After denying tickets to almost a third of its sitting MLAs in Chhattisgarh, the saffron party was set to drop some 40% of its legislature group in Rajasthan.

The BJP, which is seeking to retain power in the state, released its third list of 35 candidates for the state, while a fourth list of 10 candidates was brought out by Friday night, taking the total to 182. As many as 39 candidates had been been shown the door.

In the 200-member assembly, the BJP had bagged 120 seats in 2003. There are indications that a few more sitting MLAs may have to face the music for non-performance. The party had on Thursday left four seats ��� Kushalgarh (ST), Bagidora (ST), Kotputli and Tijara ��� for the JD(U), and there are indications that another NDA component, the INLD, which won three seats in 2003, may be accommodated by being offered with six seats in an attempt to lure the powerful Jat community.

Hoping to put its best foot forward, the BJP���s central election committee on Friday fielded three Lok Sabha members for the upcoming electoral battle in the state. These include Ms Kiran Maheshwari, who���s also the president of the BJP���s women���s wing, Mr Srichand Kripalini and Mr Raghuvir Singh Kaushal.

While Ms Maheshwari, who represents Udaipur in the Lok Sabha, will be contesting from Rajasamand, Mr Kripalini, the Chittorgarh MP, has entered the fray from Badisadri. Mr Kaushal, who���s the MP from Kota, has been fielded from Anta.
BJP general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan Gopinath Munde said these MPs have been deployed in the assembly polls for reasons such as changes in the profile of their constituencies after delimitation and demand from the local units.

The fourth list includes the names of five sitting MLAs, including two ministers, Mr Narpat Singh Razvi and Mr Kanakmal Katara. Mr Razvi, who���s former vice-president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat���s son-in-law, has, in keeping with his desire, been shifted from Chittorgarh to Vidyadhar Nagar. Chittorgarh, the seat represented in the outgoing assembly by Mr Razvi, has gone this time round to Ms Bhagwati Jhala.

The third list also includes two former Congressmen. While Mr Shriram Bhichar has been named as the nominee from Makrana, Mr Ajay Singh, son-in-law of a former Congress MP, has been made the candidate from Degana.

In an attempt to keep the Sangh Parivar united, the RSS too has been given a fair representation. Former state ABVP leader Satish Punia has been named as the candidate from Shahpura, while Mr Jogeshwar Garg has been renominated from Jalore.

Mr Rajesh Gehlot will be crossing swords with senior Congress leader and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot in Sardarpura. ``There are seven women in this list, pushing the total number of women candidates from BJP to 30. Three candidates in the third list are from the Scheduled Caste and two from Scheduled Tribe,������ Mr Munde said. The strength of women had gone up to 31 by Friday night, as one more member was accommodated in the fourth list.