Replicating its Madhya Pradesh strategy, BJP fields 7 MPs in Rajasthan

The BJP's decision to field seven of its 24 MPs from Rajasthan is similar to its strategy in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh

The BJP on Monday released its first list of 41 candidates for Rajasthan’s Assembly elections on November 23, fielding seven sitting MPs and denying tickets to some party veterans.

The party replaced its legislator in Vidhyadhar Nagar, the only seat it held in the list of 41. The BJP's decision to field seven of its 24 MPs from the state in the assembly elections matches its strategy in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, where incumbent MPs have been asked to contest the assembly elections. 

Two prominent BJP leaders were denied tickets: Vidhyadhar Nagar MLA Narpat Singh Rajvi, who is the son-in-law of former vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, and former Jhotwara MLA Rajpal Singh Shekhawat. Both are loyalists of former chief minister Vasundhara Raje.

In the Vidhayadhar Nagar assembly seat, the BJP has fielded Rajsamand MP Diya Kumari. She is a member of the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur. Rajvi has been the MLA from Vidhyadhar Nagar since 2008.

The BJP has nominated Jaipur rural MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who won a silver medal in shooting at the 2004 Athens Olympics, from Jhotwara in place of Rajpal Singh Shekhawat.

Kirodi Lal Meena, Rajya Sabha MP and the BJP’s tallest tribal leader in Rajasthan, has been fielded from the Sawai Madhopur seat in eastern Rajasthan, a region where the saffron party performed poorly in 2018.

By fielding Meena, who has a sizable following in the region, the BJP aims to improve its performance in districts like Sawai Madhopur, where it now holds no seats. Sawai Madhopur has four Assembly constituencies.

Incumbent Alwar MP Baba Balaknath has been fielded from Tijara in Alwar district.

Other MPs who will contest the Assembly elections include Jhunjhunu MP Narendra Kumar from the Mandawa seat (Jhunjhunu district), Ajmer MP Bhagirath Choudhary from Kishangarh (Ajmer district), and Jalore-Sirohi MP Devji Patel who will be in the fray from Sanchore (Sanchore district).

Gujjar leader Vijay Bainsla, who is the son of the late Colonel Kirori Singh Bainsla, the face of Gujjar quota agitation, will contest the upcoming polls on a BJP ticket from the Deoli-Uniara in Tonk.

Another important name in the list is former MP Subhash Maharia who has been fielded from Lachhmangarh in Sikar district, where the incumbent MLA is state Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra. Maharia was a BJP MP before he switched to the Congress and again returned to the BJP in May.