Jaipur: Following the results of the recent Lok Sabha elections, the BJP is preparing a strategic roadmap for the upcoming by-elections, focusing particularly on Rajasthan, which has seven seats up for contest. This state has the second-highest number of by-elections after Uttar Pradesh, where the party only managed to secure one seat in the general elections, while the opposition parties dominated.
The situation in Rajasthan mirrors this, with the BJP holding just one of the seven seats, while the rest are occupied by Congress or other opposition parties.
There is immense pressure on the BJP to secure victories in these upcoming by-elections. Adding to this challenge is the party’s ongoing membership campaign, which has sparked concerns among senior leadership due to apparent indifference from grassroots workers. Organization General Secretary B.L. Santosh is in close contact with state leaders to assess the situation, and national BJP President J.P. Nadda is expected to visit Jaipur soon to engage with both leadership and workers.
Rajasthan’s political significance for the BJP is undeniable, and the party’s strategy includes revitalizing its base through social engineering and addressing caste dynamics. After appointing Bhajanlal Sharma, a first-time MLA from the Brahmin community, as Chief Minister last year, the party also named OBC leader Madan Rathore as state president and Radhamohan Das Agarwal from the Vaishya community as General Secretary. Despite these moves, the party has yet to accommodate key caste groups such as the Jats, Meenas, and Gurjars, who hold significant influence in the regions where by-elections are taking place.
Kirori Lal Meena, a senior leader from the Meena community, adds to the party’s internal complications. Meena resigned from his ministerial position following the Lok Sabha defeat in July but continues to oversee the operations of his ministry. His resignation remains unaccepted, creating uncertainty about his role within the party. The opposition has raised questions about Meena’s involvement, particularly regarding his responsibility for disaster management during recent floods, adding further complexity to the BJP’s internal dynamics.
Caste politics plays a critical role in Rajasthan’s elections, and Congress has successfully leveraged this by securing support from Jats, Dalits, Meenas, and Gurjars. In contrast, the BJP faces challenges in uniting these communities, with several prominent caste leaders, like Hanuman Beniwal of the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, aligning themselves with Congress. Beniwal’s influence among Jat voters, particularly in the Khinvsar constituency, will be crucial in the upcoming elections, and his alliance with Congress strengthens the opposition’s chances.
BJP’s membership campaign, which aimed to add 1.25 crore new members by mid-October, has so far fallen short, with only 23 lakh members enrolled. The high command views the success of this drive as critical to building momentum for the by-elections, and there are concerns that failing to meet targets will further demoralize party workers.
The by-elections are expected to take place in November, with key constituencies being Dausa, Jhunjhunu, Chaurasi, Deoli Uniara, Khinvsar, Salumbhar, and Ramgarh. BJP’s path is seen as challenging in all but the Salumbhar seat.
ongress has made significant inroads in these regions, particularly with the support of tribal leader Rajkumar Roat of the Bharat Adivasi Party, who has an alliance with Congress. Beniwal’s strong presence in Khinvsar further complicates BJP’s strategy. In response, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma is planning a cabinet reshuffle, which he discussed during his recent visit to Delhi, to address these political challenges.
All eyes are on the BJP’s next moves as it prepares for the by-elections in November, where the party will need to address internal discontent, reinvigorate its grassroots base, and navigate the complexities of caste politics to stand a chance of success.