Hindu Saints are contesting as BJP candidates from three Muslim dominated seats in Rajasthan.

BJP played interesting Hindutva card in Rajasthan, for the first time in 30 years not a single Muslim candidate got ticket and Hindu Saints were fielded on three Muslim dominated seats.

Upendra Bharti | HENB | Jaipur | Nov 8, 2023:: In Rajasthan, BJP has played a big card of Hindutva. For the first time in three decades, BJP did not field any Muslim candidate in Rajasthan. Last time in the 2018 assembly elections, Yunus Khan was fielded against Congress candidate Sachin Pilot from Tonk. This time Yunus Khan’s ticket was canceled. The party did not give a chance to any new Muslim face in place of Yunus, whereas Muslims have influence on 35 seats in eight to ten districts of Rajasthan. Not only this, BJP has tried to give a political message by fielding saints on three Muslim dominated seats in the state.

During the tenure of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, BJP used to field Ramzan Khan from Hindu pilgrimage Pushkar. He was also made a minister in the Shekhawat government. Shekhawat brought Yunus Khan to BJP. After coming to Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje fielded Yunus from Didwana. Since then Yunus had been contesting elections from BJP. He was positioned as a  powerful minister during both the tenures of Vasundhara, but now his ticket has been cut. Apart from Yunus, Habiburman was also an MLA from BJP. His ticket was also canceled in 2018. During Vasundhara’s tenure, Sagir Khan used to get ticket from Dholpur. He is also dropped from the list of BJP’s contesting candidates.

Three Hindu saints from three Muslim dominated seats

In this year assembly election in Rajasthan, BJP fielded three Hindu saints from three Muslim dominated seats. BJP has fielded saints on three Muslim dominated seats. BJP intends to fight the 2023 elections in a completely different way. By giving tickets to three saints, the party is trying to make an impact on the surrounding seats also. As soon as the election season starts deepening in the state after Diwali, the phase of rhetoric will also gain momentum.

Mahant Pratap Puri
Mahant Pratap will contest from Pokaran seat.
Mahant Pratap Puri of Taratar Math, who was MLA from here in 2013, lost to Shale Mohammad in 2018.
This time also the competition is neck to neck. After the objectionable audio of Shale surfaced, this election will not be easy for him.
Mahant Pratapuri’s monastery is in Barmer, whose influence is in the entire Jodhpur division. It is likely to impact many seats as well.

Bal Mukundacharya
Mahant Bal Mukundacharya will contest from Hawa Mahal.
He is the Mahamandaleshwar of Hathoj Dham.
Despite the presence of  significant number of Muslims, Congress has been giving preference to Brahmins here.
BJP was in control in 2013, last time Congress’s Mahesh Joshi had won by a few votes.
This time, Mahant Bal Mukundacharya said, the party has trusted the Sanatani Hindu workers. The public will answer those who created chaos in the region for 5 years by voting.

Baba Balak Nath
Baba Balak Nath will shoot political arrows from Tijara.
Tijara is also Muslim dominated. BJP has settled the equation by fielding Alwar MP Baba Balaknath. Baba Balaknath is also called as Yogi Adityanath of Rajasthan.
Baba Balaknath belongs to Nath sect. UP CM Yogi Adityanath also belongs to this sect. That’s why Yogi also came to get Balaknath’s nomination filed.
Durru Mian was the MLA from Congress here for a long time. This time Congress has fielded Imran.

Muslim dominated/influenced seats of Rajasthan

Alwar: Ramgarh, Tijara
Bharatpur: Cama, Nagar
Jaipur: Kishanpole, Hawa Mahal, Adarshnagar
Sikar: Fatehpur, Sikar
Nagaur: Nagaur, Makrana, Didwana and Ladnun
Barmer: Shiv, Chohtan
Jodhpur: Sursagar, Phalodi
Tonk: Tonk, Malpura
Jhunjhunu: Mandawa, Nawalgarh and Jhunjhunu
Ajmer: Masuda, Ajmer, Pushkar
Jaisalmer: Jaisalmer, Pokhran
Sawai Madhopur: Gangapur City and Sawai Madhopur
Kota: Ramganj Mandi, Kota North and Ladpura
Jhalawar: Jhalrapatan, Pidawa
Dholpur: Dholpur

Advantage BJP

Considering the incumbency factors for Congress, the BJP opposition in the state is trying to get this advantage this time to capture the power in Rajasthan. The central BJP leadership is giving much importance in Rajasthan to regain its power. Though Congress has declared Ashok Gehlot as its CM face, BJP has not surfaced its CM face yet. When the internal conflict in Congress is giving trouble to the party, BJP workers are still united in the name of Hindutva, as perceived.

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__Inputs from Amar Ujala.