BJP’s first list of 131 candidates containing 85 sitting MLAs including 18 ministers shows that chief minister Vasundhara Raje has managed to repeat her team even as the Central leadership was determined to cut tickets of maximum number of sitting MLAs keeping in mind the Gujarat model. The party has fielded 25 new faces in an attempt to reduce anti-incumbency against the government.
The list has footprint of nepotism. Golma Devi, wife of Rajya Sabha MP Kirori Lal Meena, Shelesh Singh, son of late Digamber Singh, Poonam Kanwer, daughter-in-law of Devi Singh Bhati, Kailash Meghwal, son of sitting MLA Sunder Lal Kaka have got tickets. The party has also placed its bets on 12 women candidates while 32 are youth candidates. Of 131 names declared, 17 are SC while 20 are ST candidates.
As per the list announced by the BJP parliamentary board secretary JP Nadda, Ram Swaroop Lamba, son of late Sanwer Lal Jat, has been given a ticket from Naseerabad seat of Ajmer. Lamba lost Ajmer parliamentary election badly to Raghu Sharma in the bypolls held in January this year.
Meanwhile, Surendra Goyal, a cabinet minister of Raje government, has been denied ticket by the party leadership. Avinash Gehlot, a new face, has replaced him. Similarly, the party has denied ticket to another minister Nand Lal Meena and fielded Jitendra Meena.
Madan Dilawar, a strong face of RSS, who was denied ticket in previous election and completely sidelined in the inner circles of the party has got ticket from Ramganj Mandi. Here, sitting MLA Chandrakanta Maghwal has lost the candidature.
Barmer MP Colonel Sonaram will be contesting election from Barmer city. He is the lone MP in the list who has been given ticket for Assembly election while the buzz was regarding fielding many MPs including union ministers Rajyavardhan Rathore and Arjun Meghwal. Possibly their names could figure in the second list that is expected in coming days.
By announcing the list the party has also shown doors to the poor performers. In Alwar district BJP has denied tickets to Dharmpal Choudhary from Mundawar and Banwari Singhal from Alwar city. The party lost Alwar MP seat to Congress in the bypoll held in January this year. Sanjay Sharma, a core RSS leader, has replaced Singhal. Recently Sharma was promoted to Alwar District president that indicated his candidature in the list.
