Rajasthan Elections 2023: The super seven issues dominating voters' minds

Rajasthan Elections 2023: There are a host of issues that a large section of voters have strong opinions on.

As voting begins, the ruling Congress is keen to prevent history from repeating itself in Rajasthan where a revolving door trend has changed governments in every election over the past thirty years. With the BJP determined to return to power and the Congress striving to retain power, campaigning in the state has seen heated debates on some key issues.

Amid rival claims of victory, a set of Super Seven issues may dominate people’s minds in casting their votes.

1] Welfare Schemes : The public welfare schemes of the Ashok Gehlot government are the prime focus of the Congress campaign. The schemes include Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme, cheaper LPG cylinders for poor families, revival of Old Pension Scheme for government employees and a social security allowance for all adults and covers all sections of society. They ignited a shrill debate on ‘freebies’ in the poll battle as the BJP branded these schemes/guarantees as mere eye-wash which was nothing but a ‘copy-paste’ of the Centre’s popular schemes. In contrast, the Congress announced seven new Guarantees during the campaign and is banking big on its welfare push becoming a major issue for most voters.

2] Paper Leaks & Unemployment :  Papers of several government recruitment exams got leaked in the past five years and is now a vital poll issue impacting lakhs of unemployed youngsters. Besides BJP, even Congress leader Sachin Pilot slammed the Gehlot government on this crisis. The Congress argues that paper leaks happen in almost all big states but the issue has gained momentum though the Gehlot government even passed an Act to punish those convicted in paper leak cases with life imprisonment. Lakhs of youths in their 20s and 30s have been hit by paper leaks which could be the top concern for young voters.

3] Law And Order & Women’s Safety: All through the campaign, the BJP has blasted the Gehlot government for the ‘deterioration’ of law and order in the state. In particular, the rising graph of crimes against women under Congress rule has emerged as a key issue that resonates  with people across the desert state. Though the Congress says the state reacts swiftly, nabs culprits whenever an incident takes place and the situation in Rajasthan is far better than many BJP-ruled states like UP and MP, anxiety over law and order could well be a crucial concern for many voters.

4] Corruption & Red Diary: Corruption in high places has emerged as a key issue in the poll battle.Though there is no major scam to taint the Gehlot government, the BJP has turned the ‘Red Diary’ into an enigma in the campaign. The diary allegedly containing details of dubious deals under the Congress government, is a key weapon for the BJP though Gehlot dismisses it as a conspiracy hatched by the Home Ministry in Delhi. First raised by Rajendra Gudha who was sacked from the Gehlot ministry, the diary issue has been escalated at every BJP rally and could resonate with many voters who believe corruption is rampant in our political class.

5] Farmer Issues & Water Woes: Acute water scarcity and farm crisis in large parts of the state are critical concerns for countless voters. Farmer issues remain dominant in north Rajasthan districts which saw huge protests against the Centre’s now-withdrawn three farm laws that may impact the BJP. Also, the Congress may suffer for failing to fully waive off loans of farmers as promised in 2018 polls. Similarly, the demand for a ‘national project’ status for the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) to serve irrigation and drinking water needs of 13 districts of the region has ignited a shrill debate. Water woes and the ERCP seem a major issue for many voters in a region often called the Gujjar-Meena belt of Rajasthan.

6] Polarisation & Communal Tensions: The potent mix of politics and religion, usually brewed at the cost of social harmony, emerged as a dominant feature in the Rajasthan campaign. With the BJP betting big on Hindutva, the beheading of Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, the acquittal of all accused in the 2008 Jaipur Bomb Blasts case and incidents of communal tensions in the state were raked up in a big way. Debates on Sanatan Dharma, minority ‘appeasement’ and the construction of a grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya also figured prominently. While the Congress claims this polarising politics aims to misguide people in the name of religion, divisive themes could be a vital factor for many voters.

7] Factionalism & Intra-Party Frictions: The BJP and Congress are both grappling with factionalism. While Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot have mended ties for now, their tussle has impacted Congress strength in Rajasthan. In BJP, former CM Vasundhara Raje and her critics from the RSS stable have been embroiled in a power struggle that has weakened the saffron brigade’s efficacy for years. With both major parties battling internal challenges, choosing the side that could function with harmony and cohesiveness is a major issue confronting voters.

Despite the presence of numerous parties, the Rajasthan election is essentially a BJP-Congress showdown. With BJP relying on Modi magic and Congress banking on Gehlot’s welfare schemes, the voter has no dearth of issues to think about amid this fascinating clash between a PM and CM.