NEW DELHI: Ashok Gehlot rallies behind son Vaibhav in Rajasthan’s Jalore-Sirohi contest against BJP’s Lumbaram Choudhary, highlighting caste dynamics and local issues.
Ashok Gehlot is sparing no effort in securing victory for his son Vaibhav Gehlot, who is contesting from the Jalore-Sirohi constituency in Rajasthan. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party is aiming to defeat Vaibhav once again this time by fielding Lumbaram Choudhary as their candidate. In the 2019 elections, Vaibhav faced defeat against the BJP’s Gajendra Shekhawat from the Jodhpur Lok Sabha constituency but this time Vaibhav shifted to Jalore Sirohi constituency which has a good number of Mali community voters and Vaibhav too belongs to Mali community.
The constituency shares its borders with Gujarat and comprises Jalore and Sirohi districts of Rajasthan and has eight assembly constituencies in it. Jalore had been a Congress stronghold, but in the last three Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has successfully penetrated this Congress fortress, as BJP’s Devji Patel has been the incumbent MP from here since 2004. This time, the BJP has dropped its incumbent MP and fielded a local resident, Lumbaram Choudhary, BJP’s Sirohi district president, to challenge heavyweight Vaibhav Gehlot.
Ashok Gehlot is trying hard for his son’s victory. Gehlot’s family, including his wife and daughter-in-law are actively campaigning in the region. Priyanka Gandhi and Sachin Pilot also addressed a rally in favour of Vaibhav. On the day of filing nominations, Ashok Gehlot’s wife, Sunita Gehlot, shared the stage with Vaibhav’s wife and daughter.
In an emotional appeal to the audience, Ashok Gehlot said, “We have given our son to you. Now it is up to you, I want you to give him a chance.” He assured that Vaibhav’s doors would remain open for the people 24×7 and promised a dedicated cell to address local issues. Ashok Gehlot has successfully levelled the rebellion by Lal Singh Rathore, who filed a nomination from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) after he was declined a Congress ticket.
With the support of the Mali community, which is dominant in the area, Gehlot has emphasised on his caste and how he nurtured all 36 castes in the state without favouring any. During the nomination of Vaibhav Gehlot, Congress’ Jodhpur candidate also participated in the nomination rally in order to appeal to the Rajput community voters in the area. This election is a make-or-break situation for Vaibhav Gehlot, as winning Jalore-Sirohi would be a significant achievement for him and the Congress party, while a loss could have implications for him and his father Ashok Gehlot’s influence in the Congress party.
While the BJP is trying hard to ensure Vaibhav’s defeat, they have fielded a grassroots worker, Lumbaram Choudhary, as its candidate. His campaign is focused on the local issues of the constituency, including the problems of drinking water, connectivity, and healthcare infrastructure in the area. Being a grassroots worker, Choudhary has actively engaged in face-to-face interactions with voters; additionally, he is getting support from the local machinery of BJP workers.
Jalore-Sirohi constituency in Rajasthan is primarily a rural constituency, with significant influence from various caste groups. The Mali community holds a considerable presence in this region. The constituency is influenced by Other Backward Classes (OBC) voters, while the Meghwal (SC) community and the Meena (ST) community also play pivotal roles in the elections. Moreover, voters from Brahmin and Rajput communities often contribute to shaping election results. Caste affiliations have traditionally influenced voting patterns in Jalore-Sirohi, and the Mali community, along with Brahmins and Rajputs, often prove to be game changers in elections.
A resident of Sirohi, Kishore Kumar, told The Sunday Guardian, The local issues in the region encompass poor healthcare infrastructure and poor rail connectivity. The locals here are dependent on the neighbouring state of Gujarat for better medical services. He added, Access to clean drinking water and adequate irrigation facilities remains a major concern in both Jalore and Sirohi districts. The water supply in the region is often fluoride-heavy, posing health risks. Kumar added, “Both Vaibhav and Lumbaram are addressing the local issues, but Lumbaram, being a local resident, has a better understanding of the area, and I believe he can work more efficiently in this area.”