Battle Ground Rajasthan: ‘Populist Guarantees’ of Congress vs BJP’s ‘Seasonal Hindutva’.

Battle between Cong’s ‘Populist Guarantees’ vs BJP’s ‘Political Hindutva’ in Rajasthan polls.

BJP workers and Hindutva activists aspire a huge comeback of BJP in Rajasthan this time.

Seema Shekhawat | HENB | Jaipur | Nov 23, 2023:: While Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have their decisive voters to earn victories for the ruling parties there, Rajasthan missed it always for the incumbency factors though the ruling party clinched to victory this time on its performance records. On the other hand, BJP is fighting for a comeback in the state with its seasonal Hindutva with all political motivations without concertizing its Hindutva base throughout the years.

With no apparent wave on the ground or pressing everyday issues,it boils down to the Congress’ welfare guarantees agenda or the BJP’s Hindutva and anti-graft plank for voters as Rajasthan prepares for Assembly polls.

The larger, macro narrative dominates the discourse in the desert state that has traditionally alternated between voting for the Congress and the BJP. While the Congress is banking on welfare schemes such as the healthcare Chiranjeevi Yojana and its seven guarantees in breaking the revolving door trend, the BJP is upping the ante over what it calls “appeasement” of Muslims by the grand old party and corruption during the Ashok Gehlot-led regime.

In the eastern belt of Rajasthan, hard fought contests are playing out, including in Sawai Madhopur where the sitting Congress MLA (Danish Abrar) is in a triangular contest with BJP MP Kirodi Lal Meena and BJP rebel Asha Meena. The Sawai Madhopur, Tonk and Kota districts account for 14 seats of the 200 Assembly constituencies.

Asked about the Gehlot government’s performance, most people appreciate the Congress’ welfare schemes such as the Chiranjeevi Yojana and bringing prices of cylinders down but concerns are expressed over the state of law and order.

The BJP’s Hindutva pitch and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s face are also clinching factors for many with several people supporting the saffron party citing his appeal and “rise” in India’s global stature.

“Vote for the BJP is a must as Prime Minister Modi will ensure a Hindu Rashtra is established. We need a UP-like regime in Rajasthan to set things right. The Congress is only concerned about one community,” said Amrit Chauhan, an autorickshaw driver in Kota.

If the BJP’s Hindutva approach is gaining traction, there is also acknowledgement that the Gehlot government introduced several measures that reached people in remote areas. Even some BJP supporters in Sawai Madhopur, Tonk and Kota acknowledged that the government had done well on the developmental count and its schemes had touched the lives of the poor. Pawan Meena, a pan shop owner in Sawai Madhopur, said, “The government has done good work. One cannot say this time that it failed on welfare measures as its schemes, especially the Chiranjeevi Yojana, benefitted lakhs of people.”

Banking on that sentiment, the Congress has upped its game on welfarism, promising a slew of schemes for farmers and youth, including 10 lakh job opportunities, and a new scheme for recruitment at panchayat level. The party has also promised doubling the amount for beneficiaries under the Chiranjeevi health insurance scheme from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 50 lakh annually and interest-free loans up to Rs 5 lakh to small traders. Besides, it has said it would bring in reservation for minorities on the basis of their population after the caste census. However, the issue of caste census does not have much traction among people in Rajasthan.

But, the ground level  Hindutva workers, who are mainly a major factor for the victory of BJP, are not satisfied with the party leadership as they do not keep close relation with the Hindutva movements and in the time of crisis when common Hindu people face attacks from Muslim communities and congress supported goons.

The incidents of Nuh in neighbouring state Haryana has also disappointed the Hindutva workers of Rajasthan as the BJP govt Haryana was seen going against the Hindu activists who fought against the Muslims involved to attack on the procession of Brij Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra. The common Hindus in Rajasthan  also took it otherwise the handover of Gau Rakshak Manu Manesar to Rajasthan Police by the Haryana Govt in a ‘clandestine’ manner.

“BJP always undermine the Hindu activists fighting for Hindutva cause. They are the seasonal friends of Hindus at the time of election and habitually forget the Hindus in crisis. Their mobiles kept switched-off while victim Hindus call them in crisis. BJP promised to give identity card to the Gau-Rakshaks to help Gau-raksha movement, but they didn’t keep their promise. Now, this Congress govt in Rajasthan is also working against Gau-raksha activities to break the backbone of the Hindutva movement” says, Pradeep Rathore, an activist of Rajasthan Gau Seva Samiti.

The leadership crisis in BJP is another bone of contention this time in Rajasthan. BJP could not surface its CM face in this time and did not declare Vasundhara Raje as the next CM while she is the most prominent contender for the same. Ex-CM  of  Rajasthan (2003-08) Vasundhara Raje is five time MLA and also elected MP for five times.

Even then, a section of BJP workers and Hindutva activists aspire a huge comeback of BJP in Rajasthan this time.

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__Inputs from Millennium Post.