Polling will conclude in Rajasthan during the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 26, with voting taking place in the remaining 13 of its 25 seats.
The first phase covered 12 seats in the northern and eastern parts of the state, including Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur, Jaipur Rural, Sriganganagar, Bikaner, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Tonk-Sawai Madhopur.
In the second phase, the following constituencies will go to polls: Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota, Jhalawar-Baran.
In the first phase of the polling, Rajasthan saw nearly 58% voter turnout in the 12 seats where polling took place. This was a significant dip from the 2019 turnout figures of 63.71%.
In Rajasthan, a key heartland state, BJP is hoping for a repeat of its 2019 performance when it won 24 out of the 25 seats while its then ally RLP won one. This time, the Hanuman Beniwal-led party is contesting as part of the opposition bloc INDIA.
Several key constituencies will see voting in the second phase, including Kota which is currently represented by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Here is a look at key constituencies that will vote in this phase:
Kota: In Kota, which has 8 assembly segments under it, BJP's Om Birla will face Congress candidate Prahlad Gunjal. Birla is seeking a third term from the seat. Notably, Gunjal was a close aide of former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje who switched sides to Congress in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections. The contest is being billed as a ‘Grudge Match’ since the rivalry between the two candidates has been an open secret for years. In many ways, the Birla-Gunjal rift reflects their contrasting personalities. A two-time MLA and a sitting MP from Kota since 2014, Birla is a calm, composed politician with a soft-spoken demeanour. In contrast, Gunjal is a two-time MLA who prides himself on being a fiery, outspoken leader.
Banswara: The contest here is between BJP’s Mahendra Jeet Malviya, BAP’s Rajkumar Roat and Congress candidate Arvind Damor. Damor refused to withdraw his nomination despite orders from party leaders. While he is no threat to the BAP or the BJP, his mere presence in the fray marks a historic embarrassment for the Congress. The roots of this sordid mess lie in the failure of the Congress and BAP to forge an alliance despite months of discussions and a common aim to prevent a BJP win in Banswara.
Barmer: Here, the contest is between Union minister and incumbent MP Kailash Choudhary and Ravindra Bhati, a 26-year-old Rajput rebel running as an independent. Bhati, with a strong grassroots campaign, is challenging Choudhary's dominance in the region, particularly among the Rajput community. Bhati's campaign focuses on issues like unemployment, water scarcity and the alleged neglect of the region's youth. Congress’s Ummeda Ram Beniwal is also contending from the seat.
Jodhpur: Union minister and BJP veteran Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will face Congress's Karan Singh Uchiyarda in Jodhpur. Shekhawat, known for his strong political presence in the region, is seeking re-election by focusing on his track record of development initiatives and welfare schemes. On the other hand, Uchiyarda, a prominent Congress leader, is campaigning on issues such as unemployment, agricultural distress and healthcare.
Ajmer: Ajmer is poised to witness a dynamic contest, with both the BJP and Congress fielding candidates from the dominant Jat community. Incumbent MP Bhagirath Chaudhary faces stiff competition from Congress nominee Ram Chandra Choudhary, who has been strategically positioned to tap into local caste dynamics, particularly Dalit, Other Backward Castes (OBC) and Muslim votes.
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