Rajasthan is witnessing a closely contested battle in the by-elections held on November 13th, 2024, across seven assembly seats. With votes being counted, the picture emerging is one of fierce competition between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC), with surprising surges from independent candidates. The current trends indicate a tight race, with neither party establishing a clear dominance.
As of the latest updates, the BJP is leading in two constituencies. Rajendra Gurjar is currently ahead in Deoli-Uniara, while Revant Ram Danga holds the lead in Khinwsar. In Khinwsar, Danga maintains a significant lead of 4,451 votes after three rounds of counting, leaving Kanika Beniwal (wife of Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal) trailing. The Deoli-Uniara race is also tight, with an Independent candidate, Naresh Meena, vying for the second spot behind Gurjar, while Congress’s Kastoori Chand Meena trails in third.
The Congress party is not far behind, securing leads in two crucial seats. Aryaan Zubair Khan is leading in Ramgarh with a margin of 1,774 votes after two rounds of counting. Meanwhile, Deen Dayal has secured a lead in Dausa with 1,885 votes, edging out BJP candidate Jag Mohan (brother of Cabinet Minister Kirodi Meena).
Adding a layer of unpredictability to the election outcomes, the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) is showcasing strength, with Jitesh Kumar Katara and Anil Kumar Katara holding leads in Salumbar and Chorasi respectively. This performance highlights the influence of tribal communities in certain constituencies.
The most surprising development comes from Jhunjhunu, where a former minister and Independent candidate, Rajendra Gudha, is currently leading by a narrow margin of 298 votes after four rounds of counting. He is ahead of BJP’s Rajendra Bamboo and Congress’s Amit Ola (son of Jhunjhunu MP Brijendra Ola).
These by-elections were necessitated by a combination of factors. The deaths of sitting MLAs led to by-polls in Ramgarh and Salumbar. Five other seats were vacated as the sitting MLAs were elected to the Lok Sabha in the previous general elections.
The current state assembly comprises 200 seats, with the BJP holding 114, Congress holding 65, BAP holding 3, BSP holding 2, RLD holding 1, and 8 Independent MLAs. The outcome of these by-elections could significantly shift the political landscape of Rajasthan and impact the upcoming state assembly elections. The final results are eagerly awaited as they promise to offer insightful perspectives into the shifting dynamics of Rajasthan’s political arena.
