Tough battle for Cong candidate in Jhunjhunu

Rajasthan Congress chief Chandrabhan is locked in a riveting close contest in Mandawa constituency, making it probably the most keenly watched electoral battle across the state.

The presence of sitting MLA Rita Chaudhary, who turned a rebel after being denied ticket to accommodate the PCC president, in the fray and tangible anger among Jats against the Ashok Gehlot government have added to his woes.

It is almost a do-or-die battle for Chandrabhan in the polls in which his future remains uncertain. He had lost successive electoral battles in 2003 and 2008 and is among the few leaders given the Congress ticket in violation of Rahul Gandhi's formula that those having lost two consecutive elections would not be made a party candidate.

It is not helping him either that BJP has put up a Muslim candidate, who had fought last elections on BSP ticket and come second. Salim Tanwar is likely to eat into the Congress' traditional vote bank among Muslims.

"Injustice has been done to that girl (Rita). It is very fluid right now. Only on election eve, we (Jats) will decide whom to support," says Mayaram Chaudhary, an octogenarian Jat voter.

Jats number over 35%  in the electorate which is part of Jhunjhunu district represented by formidable community leader and Cabinet Minister Sisram Ola in Lok Sabha.

Polling in Rajasthan is scheduled on December 1.

In her campaign, Rita reminds sympathetic audience of her father Ram Narayan Chaudhary's, a seven-time MLA from the seat and former PCC president who died last year, service for the people and how Congress "betrayed her at Ola's behest".