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Jat-Muslim factor to play key role in Ajmer

By Mohammed Iqbal

AJMER, APRIL 29. The fate of the Ajmer Lok Sabha constituency in Rajasthan is likely to be decided by a few significant factors, such as the rivalry between various factions of Congress, the Jat-Muslim combine and the Bharatiya Janata Party's success in mobilising the entire Rawat community in favour of its candidate and four-time MP, Rasa Singh Rawat.

The last-minute decision of the Congress to field its lone Muslim candidate in the State, Habibur Rehman, from Ajmer would not pay dividends on the expected scale, according to the political observers here. The candidature of Mr. Rehman -- who hails from the neighbouring Nagaur district and was defeated there in the recent Assembly polls -- was finalised by the party after rejecting the claims of many local contenders.

The high drama at the District Congress Committee office here on April 18, when the former party MLA from Masuda, Qayoom Khan, fired in the air, has had a demoralising impact on the party workers. The altercation between Mr. Khan's brother, Mehmood Khan, and some other Congressmen had its genesis in the ticket being given to Mr. Rehman.

Though the Congress has seemingly made a bet by fielding Mr. Rehman in view of the world-famous Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti situated in Ajmer, the move may even backfire with the Dargah Dewan, Zainul Abedin, displaying his inclination towards the BJP during the past few months. He was present in Kanyakumari during the launch of the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani's Bharat Uday Yatra.

"The Congress stands for equality and justice to all sections, irrespective of caste and creed,'' S.L. Bohra, president of the DCC's Scheduled Caste Cell, told The Hindu while rebutting the BJP's allegation that Congress wanted to placate Muslims by fielding Mr. Rehman as its candidate. Mr. Bohra said the BJP had indulged in caste politics ever since 1989 when it galvanised Rawats into supporting Mr. Rasa Singh Rawat.

Though the Lok Sabha constituency has different caste combinations in different regions, Muslims may tilt the balance in view of their significant presence in four Assembly segments -- Ajmer West, Ajmer East, Beawar and Pushkar. Of the eight Assembly segments in the constituency, Jats wield influence in Bhinai, Pushkar and Kishangarh.

The Jat-Muslim combine, which got disturbed following the voting pattern in the Assembly elections especially in Nagaur region -- where Jats reportedly voted against four Muslim candidates leading to their defeat -- may also make an impact on the poll outcome in Ajmer. The resentment of Jats against Congress may get reflected in the Lok Sabha elections as well.

As for the performance of Mr. Rawat during his four consecutive terms as MP -- except the break in 1998 when he was defeated by Prabha Thakur of Congress -- the local people do not consider it up to the mark. Ajmer city faces paucity of drinking water despite the water from Bisalpur dam being supplied here and the rural areas have the perennial problem of water and power shortage.

However, the BJP supporters here are confident of Mr. Rawat's victory with the claim that he had opened the channels for development as an ongoing process. "Mr. Rawat's pleasant personality and his non-controversial record in public life will have a cumulative effect on the voters for the fifth time,'' Shailendra Mathur, convenor of the BJP's Media Cell, affirmed.

The BJP's astute strategy of wooing the Rawats, concentrated in Magra-Merwara region, began in 1989, when Mr. Rawat contested for the Lok Sabha for the first time. Rawats -- allegedly ignored by Congress -- extended their overwhelming support to the BJP candidate and since then he has been the choice of the party as well as the community.

Though Mr. Rehman also holds a clean public image, the perceptible grudge among certain sections within Congress against his candidature may have an adverse impact on the turnout of voters on the polling day. The party insiders admit that their cadres need to learn their lesson in election management from their adversaries.

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