The Hindu : Other States / Rajasthan News : A formidable challenge for BJP

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Wednesday, May 05, 2004

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A formidable challenge for BJP

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, MAY 4. The five-time Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament from Jaipur, Girdharilal Bhargava, faces a formidable challenge for the first time in his political career from his erstwhile party colleague, Pratap Singh Khachariawas, who is pitted against him as the Congress candidate for the Lok Sabha election.

The entry of Mr. Khachariawas in the fray from the State Capital after he crossed over to the Congress has upset the calculations of BJP and compelled it to devise new strategies to maintain its hold in the Pink City and rural areas of the constituency. Mr. Khachariawas' kinship -- he is the nephew of the Vice-President, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat -- has only added to the BJP's difficulty.

If the Congress party's flags hoisted in a number of localities in the city, especially in the slum areas, are any indication, Mr. Khachariawas' image of being a young and spirited fighter is likely to improve the prospects of Congress. Mr. Khachariawas has been in the forefront of various agitations of slum dwellers, brick kiln labourers and the autorickshaw and minibus drivers.

Though Mr. Bhargava's public relations constitute a strong factor in his favour, the Congress nominee has presented himself as an alternative to the elder politician. The electorate here is considering the pros and cons of both the candidates on the eve of the polling day to make up its mind.

The political analysts point out that Mr. Khachariawas had polled a good number of votes in the Assembly elections of 2003 when he contested as an independent candidate from Bani Park segment here. He can put up a good fight to Mr. Bhargava if he improves his position in Bani Park, Kishanpole and Jaipur Rural segments, as he has evolved a good support base in Johari Bazar and Sanganer.

Mr. Bhargava, who has been elected to the Parliament for five consecutive terms since 1989, will find it difficult to counter the anti-incumbency factor this time. Though he claims to have worked for betterment of the State Capital by getting the railway network expanded and working for international status to the Sanganer airport, he may find it difficult to convince the voters.

Other candidates in the fray here include Mahendra Pratap Chaudhary of Rashtriya Lok Dal, Om Prakash Kedawat of Samata Party, O.P. Barwadia of Bahujan Samaj Party and Indrajeet Singh of Samajwadi Party. None of them seems to be in a position to put up a good fight to the nominees of the two major parties.

Interestingly, Mr. Khachariawas is being opposed by an unusual segment -- the women -- on the ground that he was an accused in a case of glorification of the infamous Sati incident in Deorala in 1987. Though a special court has since acquitted Mr. Khachariawas of the charge, the Mahila Atyachar Virodhi Jan Andolan has taken exception to his candidature.

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