Two political heavyweights who share their initials and surname, C.P. Joshi, but belong to the rival Congress and BJP have locked horns in Rajasthan’s Mewar-Bagar region where the BJP currently enjoys a stronghold due to its victory in 19 Assembly constituencies out of a total of 35 in the 2018 election. C.P. Joshi of the Congress is the Speaker in the legislative Assembly and is contesting the November 25 election from Nathdwara seat. He is pitted against Mewar royal family’s Vishwaraj Singh who has been fielded by the BJP.
For BJP’s C.P. Joshi, an MP from Chittorgarh and head of Rajasthan state unit of the party, the coming election is a prestige battle as he has been tasked by the party to improve the tally in the Mewar-Bagar region spread over seven districts. Amid the heightening political temperature in the state, the Congress on Wednesday received a setback with the Election Commission banning the party’s “missed call” phone advertisement in which Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s recorded voice shares his party’s seven guarantees with voters. The action follows a complaint by the BJP.
The Opposition BJP is contesting its first election in the Mewar-Bagar region without veteran leader Gulab Chand Kataria, who has become Assam governor. During the campaign, the BJP has Udaipur’s Kanhaiya Lal murder and Bhilwara minor girl’s rape-cum-murder key election campaign issues. The party is also facing dissidence as its prominent leader and two-time MLA Chandrabhan Singh Aakya is contesting from Chittorgarh seat as independent. The BJP has fielded Narpat Singh Rajvi, son-in-law of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
In the 2018 election, the BJP had won 19 seats. The Congress had won 12 seats in the region and 4 seats were won by smaller parties and independents. The Mewar region includes districts like Udaipur, Rajsamand, Chittorgarh and Bhilwara. The Bagar region includes Dungarpur, Banswara and Pratapgarh districts. In 2013, the Congress won three seats and the BJP got 31 seats in the Mewar-Bagar region. In 2008, the Congress won 24 and the BJP won nine seats. Out of the 35 assembly seats in the region, 16 are served for ST and one is reserved for SC.
Meanwhile, the Congress released its manifesto for the election on Saturday, promising enhanced medical insurance from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 50 lakh under Chiranjeevi Scheme; 150 days of employment under MGNREGA; 10 lakh jobs, including 4 lakh in government, for youths; extensive CCTV network to check crimes against women; concessional travel facility; appointment of women guardians: MSP provision for farmers and Rs 2 lakh interest free loan for peasants.
To attract young voters, the Congress has promised to promote sports culture in the state and organise “rural and urban Olympics”, apart from increasing the number of sports complexes. The party also promised to implement the new education policy and increase the number of schools and scholarships. Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat slammed the Congress manifesto and said the party which could not fulfil the promises made in 2018 has again made big announcements to mislead voters in Rajasthan.