2024 Lok Sabha elections | BJP’s Rajasthan picks: In three seats, how caste equations, local leaders can give party a tough fight

The BJP on Saturday released it first list of 195 candidates for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. The party’s 15 nominees announced from Rajasthan include Om Birla from Kota, Jyoti Mirdha from Nagaur and Mahendra Jeet Singh Malviya from Banswara.

While Mirdha had lost the Assembly polls last year, Malaviya had joined the BJP recently from the Congress.

The BJP hopes to cash in on Mirdha and Malviya’s popularity on the two seats.

However, caste equations and regional leaders can give the BJP a tough fight this year in the elections, especially on three seats – Nagaur, Karauli-Dholpur and Banswara. Rajasthan has 25 Lok Sabha seats, out of which, four seats are reserved for SC candidates, while three seats are reserved for the ST candidates. Rajasthan has been one of the strongholds of the NDA government, as they have won 24 and 25 seats in 2019 and 2014 elections respectively.

Nagaur, being a Jat dominated seat and its current MP Hanuman Beniwal from RLP being the tallest leader of the community and popular amongst the youth, BJP may have to sweat it out on this seat.

A BJP worker, who did not wish to be identified, said, “Caste equation in Nagaur is a problem. There are 6 Vidhan Sabha seats under Nagaur Lok Sabha seat in which 70% population are Jats. There is always a demand to give tickets to Jats who belongs from here. Jat candidates from other parts of the state is never preferred. However, as BJP did not have any leader from Nagaur, they gave ticket to Jyoti Mirdha. The Mirdha family has a strong hold in the area which may benefit BJP. Moreover, the rise of Hanuman Beniwal, who has influence amongst the youth, can give us a challenge as youth is still a decisive factor in elections.”

In 2019, the BJP did not let anyone