Political reputations at stake in Barmer contest (Constituency Profile)

The contest for the Barmer Lok Sabha seat is likely to decide the future of political heavyweights.

The Congress recently named Manvendra Singh, son of BJP stalwart Jaswant Singh, as its candidate from Barmer while the BJP is in the process of searching for the right candidate to further liven up the political scenario here.

Manvendra Singh, has an interesting past.

He won from Barmer in the 2004 general elections as a BJP candidate but is now representing the Congress. He had switched over before the 2018 Assembly elections but lost when he was fielded against then Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje from Jhalawar, her home turf since 2003.

At that time, the Congress, sources said, had promised him to field him from Barmer in 2019 and the party has fulfilled its promise.

However, the stoic silence maintained by the BJP has left one and all surprised as it is yet to open its cards and reveal the name of its candidate from the seat, which is dominated by Jats, Muslims and Dalits.

Political sources said the BJP is focusing on three names: Mahendra Singh Choudhary, a former IPS officer who recently took voluntary retirement; Kailash Choudhary, who was an MLA till last year; and a strong Jat candidate, Colonel Sona Ram (73), who had defeated Jaswant Singh in 2014. Sona Ram could be the third choice as age is against him, the sources added.

Prakash Javadekar, Union minister for Human Resource Development who is state incharge for the Lok Sabha elections, has not said who the party candidate would be.

Speaking to IANS, he said: "We have right plans and projects in mind for Barmer and we shall reveal it on right time. However, at present, it is a secret." he added.

Meanwhile, recently sacked IPS officer Pankaj Choudhary confirmed to IANS that he will be contesting from Barmer.

"I have decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections as an independent and will file my nomination on April 8 as it is my birthday. I have served in this belt during my service and people here trust my work. Hence, I have chosen this seat to contest the elections," he added.

He further revealed that BJP considered his name in the initial rounds. "This might sound surprising but it is true that BJP initially considered my name, which came as a shock to me as well."

Choudhary was sacked in the first week of March on charges of re-marrying without divorcing his first wife. He denied the charges and termed it the personal vendetta of Vasundhara Raje who he said, had issues with his working.

Choudhary said he has been approached by the BSP, the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party and AAP.

"As of now, I am planning to contest as Independent. However, there is a possibility of me going with either of the parties I have mentioned as I lack the funds to campaign in the interiors," he said.

Hence, Barmer is a seat with many interesting stories of aspirations, ambitions, promises and shockers, which makes it hot in the coming elections.

(Archana Sharma can be contacted at archana.s@ians.in)

--IANS

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