BJP reposes faith in its old war horses in Jodhpur

JODHPUR: Contrary to speculations of dropping many of its sitting MLAs, BJP has sprang a surprise in Jodhpur, repeating all its candidates including eight MLAs and one parliamentary secretary, who had lost to Ashok Gehlot.

Only Jodhpur city constituency has witnessed a change as sitting MLA Kailash Bhansali has been replaced with his nephew Atul Bhansali, thereby keeping the seat to the family.

Eldest of all is five-time MLA Suryakanta Vyas (80), fondly known as ‘jiji’, who is in the fray for seventh time in succession from Soorsagar constituency in spite of an internal objection to her candidature. She is famous for responding to peoples’ call and infamous for locking horns with anti-encroachment wings of JMC.

“Battling with the same objections last election, she had requested all the aspirants to let her contest this election for last time and considering her request and the respect she commands, they conceded. But this time again, she refused to back off”, said a party worker from her constituency admitting the party’s decision to be a surprise.

Similarly, the other octogenarian MLA from City Kailash Bhansali, however, has declined to step into the fray this time, thereby triggering hope for some other aspirants. But roping in his nephew, a businessman in Mumbai, has come as a blow to many aspirants, many of whom are big and long-serving names.

Three times MLA Babu Singh Rathore from Shergarh, two times MLA Jogaram Patel from Luni and three times MLA Gajendra Singh Khinvsar from Lohawat were the candidates, who had been facing opposition in their respective constituencies. The rumour mill had suspected replacements of first two and change of seat for Khinvsar owing to his unceasing strife with pradhan but repeating them has confirmed the party’s trust in them. All the three are considered confidantes of Vasuandhara Raje.

The party has repeated its two times MLA Kamsa Meghwal from Bhopalgarh, which is a reserved constituency and has been a bastion of the Congress heavyweight Parasram Maderna. Post-delimitation, the scenario changed and BJP continued to rule Maderna’s bastion for two terms in succession. Another reserved constituency Bilara has also had its two times MLA Arjunlal Garg in the fray, who had advised people in a religious gathering in May in Bilara to consider peddling gold instead of drug.

Similarly, one time MLAs from Phalodi and Osian constituencies Pabbaram Bishnoi and Bhairaram Seol, respectively, have been repeated by the party considering their fair image in their respective areas. Seol from Osain, a jat candidate, had trounced Leela Maderna, wife of former minister Mahipal Maderna, who is currently been facing trial for abduction and murder of nurse Bhanwari Devi, in last election.

Sardarpura constituency, held by Ashok Gehlot, has sprang a surprise. The party has repeated parliamentary secretary Shambhu Singh Khetasar here, who had lost to Gehlot in the last election. BJP always fielded a new face every election from this constituency but repeating a candidate this time indicates that party is heavily relying on the works done in Sardarpura constituency.