Rajasthan’s 2023 Legislative Assembly Elections will be held on the 25th of November, with results being scheduled to be declared on the 3rd of December. Currently, the Indian National Congress, in alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Dal, is in power in the state; with Ashok Gehlot as the Chief Minister. The opposition is the Bharatiya Janata Party, with Rajendra Singh Rathore as their candidate and opposition leader. The INC holds 100 seats to the BJP’s 73.
So, what claims have been made by either side? Have any been countered? Let’s take a look.
The BJP has pledged itself to lowering fuel prices in the state, with Union Minister Hardeep Puri’s claim of lower petrol costs under BJP rule being backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Major party leaders, such as Yogi Adityanath have also held rallies in the state, with fuel prices being a recurring argument. The BJP has also targeted the internal issues within the INC, referring to the row between Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and Chief Minister Gehlot.
PM Modi scathingly referred to the INC in Rajasthan as a cricket team whose batsmen are trying to run each other out. He called the INC out on misgovernance as well, implying a link between the internal issues and governance.
The Congress Alliance has taken a more macro view, focusing on the policies and views of the BJP at a national level. CM Gehlot criticised central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax Department. Recently, he claimed that the BJP was misusing them for ‘political gain’. Deputy CM Pilot also countered the claims of internal discord in the party. He stated that there is a sense of collective mutual leadership and respect within the party. Recently, Pilot had said that he was ready to move on from previous feuds with CM Gehot.
Exit polls on the 25th will reveal much more information on the result, but as of now opinion polls have indicated a shift in power, with agencies such as the ABP News-CVoter projecting the BJP to win around 110-120 seats.