Rajasthan elections: Multiple civic issues plague Gehlot’s stronghold
The constituency with 212 polling stations comprises around 254,572 voters, out of which 129,869 are men and 124,703 are women.
Located in the heart of Jodhpur in Rajasthan, Sardarpura was named after Maharaja Sardar Singh who built a 300-year-old Ghanta Ghar and Sardar Market near the six-century old Mehrangarh fort. One of the important seats in the upcoming Rajasthan assembly polls, the Sardarpura constituency has remained in the limelight in the last 25 years, since chief minister Ashok Gehlot won from the area consecutively since 1998.
Ashok Gehlot, a senior leader of the Indian National Congress, has played a pivotal role in the state’s politics. His electoral successes in Sardarpura have made this constituency a stronghold for the Congress party. Winning from this area reflects Gehlot’s enduring popularity and influence in the region, cementing its role in the state’s political landscape.
The upcoming Rajasthan assembly polls are eagerly anticipated, and Sardarpura will once again be in the spotlight. The constituency’s historical and political significance makes it a critical battleground for political parties and an essential factor in shaping the state’s future.
The incumbent MLA, CM Gehlot, first won the seat in a by-poll in 1998 when Congress appointed him as the chief minister following the party’s victory on 153 out of 200 constituencies in the assembly election under his state presidentship. The Congress has won from the seat eight times compared to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s two wins. According to a political expert, Gehlot’s steady rise in Sardarpura took place at a time when the BJP started building a stronghold in the area with two consecutive victories bagged by Rajya Sabha MP Rajendra Gehlot in 1990 and 1993.
Post 1998, the other parties, including BJP started losing popularity in Sardarpura “failing to beat the growing Gehlot-factor”, said the expert. CM Gehlot’s influence was so strong that the BJP’s constant change in their candidate faces also seemed to fail, said the expert, on the condition of anonymity.
While the two-time BJP Sardarpura MLA Rajendra Gehlot lost to CM at a margin of 15% votes in 2008, the party’s candidate in last two elections Sambhu Singh Khetsar was also defeated at 13% votes in 2013, and over 30% in the last election in 2018, according to the data from election commission.
Sardarpura has historically been a stronghold for the Congress party. Congress has won from the seat a total of eight times, showcasing the party’s enduring influence in the area. This electoral success can be attributed to the charismatic leadership of Ashok Gehlot, who has consistently garnered support from the constituency.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faced significant challenges in Sardarpura as they attempted to break the Congress dominance in the region. Despite their efforts, they struggled to overcome what was referred to as the “Gehlot-factor.” Ashok Gehlot’s popularity and influence in the constituency remained strong, making it difficult for the BJP to secure victories.
The BJP attempted to counter Ashok Gehlot’s influence by changing their candidate faces in the constituency, but these efforts did not yield the desired results. Even though the party nominated different candidates in different elections, they continued to face electoral defeats.
The data from the election commission illustrates the challenges faced by the BJP in Sardarpura. In 2008, Rajendra Gehlot, a two-time BJP MLA from the constituency, lost to Ashok Gehlot by a significant margin of 15% of the votes. In subsequent elections, such as in 2013 and 2018, the BJP’s candidates faced even more substantial losses, with margins of 13% and over 30%, respectively.
The electoral margins in favor of the Congress in various elections highlight the strong hold Ashok Gehlot has had on the Sardarpura constituency, making it a crucial stronghold for the party.
State livestock development board chairman and Congress leader Rajendra Singh Solanki who also contested the poll from Sardarpura once in 1993, however, refuted the allegations, saying the chief minister has worked for “overall development”.
Solanki said, “The chief minister has implemented many schemes for the welfare and development of all castes. Mandore Garden has been rejuvenated, while Surpura Dam has been developed as a tourist destination. Many new higher educational institutions have also been established in the area. The CM’s vision has not only been limited to Sardarpura, but he has focused on the overall development of Jodhpur city.”
Political observer Dinesh Ramawat said, “Sardarpura is considered a safe seat for Congress and especially Ashok Gehlot because the caste equation here is in his favour. Along with the majority of Mali votes, Congress also gets the advantage of Gehlot being in the race for chief minister’s post in every election”.
