Rajasthan Congress chief: ‘Good performance in LS polls result of combined effort … just one man cannot be credited’

The Congress on Tuesday ended its decade-long Lok Sabha seat drought in Rajasthan, bagging eight constituencies even as it helped allies win three others. This will come as a boost for the party after the drubbing it received in the state Assembly election less than six months ago.

Between taking congratulatory calls and visits from Congress leaders, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee chief Govind Singh Dotasra talks to The Indian Express about the election, the party’s strategy, and what lies ahead.

Excerpts:

The Congress made a comeback in a Lok Sabha election after 10 years. What was your strategy?

We focused on core issues concerning the state. We travelled to 17 constituencies in Rajasthan and realised that there was a chance to score some seats if we chose the right candidates. And that is what we did. We gave tickets to potential winners while trying to resolve the internal problems in the party.

Second, we raised local issues such as Agnipath (the controversial short-term Army recruitment policy) and farmers’ protests. These two issues were important in Ganganagar (parliamentary seat) and the state’s Shekhawati belt, and we used them in our campaigns. Then there was the issue of (the BJP’s attempts to) change the Constitution and end reservation. As a result, the state’s SC, ST, minority, and the Jats supported the Congress.

Your three allies won too. Will this affect the Congress’s prospects in these seats in the future?

Three allies were able to defeat the BJP with our help. They could not have secured these votes independently. Meanwhile, the Congress votes are intact and still support us. So, it won’t be a problem in the future because our voters’ ideology is still the same.

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