Rajasthan Lok Sabha elections 2024: Key constituencies and candidates in first phase

Political parties wrapped up their final rallies in 102 Lok Sabha constituencies on April 17, signifying the culmination of campaigning for the first phase of the general elections.

Within a mere 24-hour timeframe, the electoral process for the first phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, spanning 21 states and Union territories, is poised to begin on April 19. The 2024 general elections are slated to unfold across seven phases, with the first phase scheduled for April 19, followed by subsequent phases on April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. The counting of votes is scheduled for June 4.

The campaign by political parties for the first phase of general elections in Rajasthan's 12 constituencies concluded on April 17. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) centred its campaign around Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assurances, while the Congress directed its criticism towards the BJP, particularly highlighting issues like unemployment and inflation.

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The 12 constituencies slated for the first phase of polling are Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Jaipur, Jaipur Rural, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Nagaur, and Dausa. The state counts approximately 5 crore voters, consisting of 2.76 crore men, 2.54 crore women, and 619 individuals identifying as belonging to the third gender. Additionally, nearly 16.4 lakh new voters are likely to participate in the upcoming elections.

Polling in Rajasthan will be held from 7 am to 6 pm in all the 12 constituencies amid tight security arrangements, chief electoral officer Praveen Gupta said. He further said that the 50 percent of the booths have been facilitated with a webcasting system and around 1,300 quick response teams have also been deployed for additional protection . The paramilitary check posts have also set up in over 270 inter-state areas.

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Rajasthan, which saw a significant 66.34 percent polling turnout in 2019, will decide the fate of 131 candidates in 12 seats on April 19.  In the first phase of polling, Rajasthan witnessed intense campaigning, marked by five visits from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He held rallies in Churu, Dausa, Jaipur Rural, Barmer, and Ajmer. Furthermore, Union Home Minister Amit Shah conducted three rallies in Alwar, Sikar, and Jaipur.

To bolster the Congress campaign, senior party leader Rahul Gandhi conducted two rallies in Anupgarh and Falodi. Prior to the implementation of the model code of conduct, he also made two visits to Dholpur and Banswara during the party’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra last March. Meanwhile, the party’s national president, Mallikarjun Kharge, visited the state twice, holding rallies in Chittorgarh and Jaipur. Additionally, the general secretary, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, visited Rajasthan four times, addressing rallies in Jaipur, Jalore, Alwar, and Dausa.

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Churu

Churu is gearing up for a highly expected showdown between BJP's Devendra Jhajharia and Congress's Rahul Kaswan in the polls. Kaswan, the incumbent MP who now represents Congress, faces off against his former party amid local controversy surrounding his party switch.

Adding to the political intrigue, Rajendra Rathore, popularly known as 'Kaka', emerges as a significant figure in the Churu constituency. Kaswan has accused Rathore of playing a crucial role in obstructing his candidacy on the BJP ticket. Against the backdrop of farmer loan issues and water scarcity plaguing the Jat-dominated region, the stage is set for a fiercely contested electoral battle.

Sikar

In Sikar, the electoral battle features Congress's coalition partner CPI(M)'s Comrade Amra Ram against BJP's Swami Sumedhanand.

With a substantial Jat influence in the region, the contest revolves around key issues such as agricultural pricing, particularly concerning commodities like onions. Sumedhanand faces scrutiny over his origins, hailing from Haryana's Rohtak, even as he promises local initiatives like establishing an army recruitment center to bolster his candidacy.

With more than 21 lakh eligible voters in the constituency, the stage is set for the electorate to determine the next representative.

Jaipur

Controversies have emerged in Jaipur surrounding the Congress's  candidature changes, notably with Pratap Singh Khachariyawas replacing Sunil Sharma amid speculations linked to Sharma's association with right-wing platforms.

Meanwhile, the BJP's nomination of Manju Sharma, a seasoned politician, underscores its commitment to promoting female representation. Given Jaipur's history of BJP dominance, the constituency retains its significance, with previous electoral margins offering insights into voter sentiments.

Nagaur

The Nagaur Lok Sabha constituency, one of Rajasthan’s 25 parliamentary constituencies, falls under the general category and includes parts of Nagaur district. Currently, it consists of eight Legislative Assembly segments: Ladnun, Deedwana, Jayal (SC), Nagaur, Khinvsar, Makrana, Parbatsar, and Nawan, all located within Nagaur district.

In Nagaur, the BJP and the INDIA bloc have swapped their candidates from the 2019 elections, setting the stage for a direct and closely contested battle between the BJP's Jyoti Mirdha and RLP's Hanuman Beniwal, who is now the INDIA joint candidate.

In the 2019 elections, Beniwal, who was then part of the NDA, secured victory with a significant margin of 181,260 votes and a vote share of 54.86 percent. He emerged triumphant over Mirdha, who was the Congress candidate at that time.

Dausa

The Dausa (ST) Lok Sabha constituency is among the 25 parliamentary seats in Rajasthan, covering a portion of Alwar district, the entirety of Dausa district, and a segment of Jaipur district. Jaskaur Meena of the BJP currently serves as the Member of Parliament (MP) for this constituency. She succeeded Harish Chandra Meena of the BJP, Kirodi Lal (an independent candidate), and Congress’s Sachin Pilot.

In the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, scheduled for April 19 in the first round of the seven-phase polling, the main contenders for the seat are Kanhaiya Lal Meena of the BJP and Murari Lal Meena of the Congress.