Rajasthan Lok Sabha polls wrap up with chance of an opening for Congress after 10 years

As Rajasthan wraps up 2024 Lok Sabha elections with voting for 13 seats on Friday, the Congress seems confident of ending its 10-year dry run in the state. In 2014 and 2019, the BJP and the NDA led by it, respectively, won all the 25 seats in Rajasthan.

In the two phases of voting in the state, the BJP seemed to be facing a challenge in at least half the seats each, if not entirely from the Congress. Unlike the last two times when voting was largely in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as the BJP’s core issues of nationalism and Ram Temple etc, this time, caste politics seemed to weigh heavily on voters in a few seats.

The key constituencies in the second phase are Barmer-Jaisalmer, Banswara, Jalore, Kota, Jodhpur and Tonk.

Overall, the Congress is optimistic as it has nothing to lose, while BJP leaders seem a bit apprehensive given the target set by Modi of “400 paar (beyond 400)” seats across the country. It may not be a coincidence that both of Modi’s polarising speeches where he attacked the Congress while referring to Muslims came in Rajasthan – Banswara and Tonk.

The first phase’s drop in polling is believed to have added to BJP worries, though in the last leg, the BJP’s campaign that the Congress’s social justice plank was another means to “take people’s money” at least left the Opposition rattled.

The Congress might also fall short on the organisation front compared to the BJP, while its course to alliances was rocky. For example, while it is officially supporting the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) in Banswara, the Congress also has a candidate in the fray who did not withdraw. Meanwhile, owing to alleged delay from the Congress in making up its mind, the BAP has fielded candidates in Chittorgarh and