CONGRESS PERFORMANCE IN EAST RAJASTHAN TO DEPEND ON GEHLOT-PILOT TRUCE

The ruling Congress in Rajasthan appears to be facing uncertainty in the crucial eastern parts of the desert state which are considered to be the strongholds of former Chief Minister Sachin Pilot whose power struggle with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is suspected to be far from over.

The absence of Pilot’s photo from Congress posters and then its belated emergence may have gone unnoticed among masses, but political observers say the impact of internal friction in the party might get reflected in the result of the November 25 Assembly election which will be declared on December 3.

The ruling party’s good show in east Rajasthan gave it an upper hand in 2018. The BJP had failed to win even a single seat in the four districts—Bharatpur, Karauli, Dausa, Swaimadhopur—in the eastern region.

Pilot has significant influence over seats in districts like Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli, Dausa, Swaimadhopur, Tonk and Ajmer. There are 66 seats in these nine districts and out of these Congress had won 37, the BJP had won 15 and others got 14 in 2018.