Dalits to be deciding factor in Nasirabad

AJMER: Both BJP and Congress left nothing to chances to get an edge in the byelections of Nasirabad scheduled for Saturday. Many are considering this fight here to be between chief minister Vasundhra Raje and Congress state head Sachin Pilot and none seemed concerned about the poll issues and the candidates.
The two parties consider that dalit votes could play major role in deciding the winner here and both played the caste cards.
As part of their game plans, Congress chose Ramnaranyan Gujjar as its candidate while BJP fielded Sarita Gaina. They also relying on the local caste leaders to get votes in bulk from different pockets in the region.
Gujjars dominate the constituency and comprises 38% of the 1,95,307 electors and Jats about 36%. About 9% voters are from Brahmin, Baniya, Rajput and Jains communities while 15% are dalits and minorities.
In the last assembly election, Sanwar lal Jat won by 28,900 votes and defeated Gujjar candidate Mahendra Singh Gujjar. The triumph was a big one for BJP as it was for the first time in the last 25 years, the party could get hold of this constituency. Polling was totally caste-based and dalits went with BJP in protest against Congress.
One of the main reasons for the Congress' defeat last time was the split among Gujjar voters over the nomination of Mahendra Singh Gujjar who was the former MLA from this constituency. Morevoer, the image of Sanwar Lal Jat in his community played an important role in uniting the Jat voters.
This time, Congress was able to arrive at a consensus on Ramnarayan Gujjar and united the community. Efforts were also made effort to placate the dalits. Congress also said BJP candidate Sarita Gaina is an outsider and will unavailable when required by the voters.
On other hand, chief minister Vasundhra Raje made two visits to Nasirabad while the RSS wing worked for polling booth management. BJP also made strategic moves to bring in caste leaders and get support of voters in this constituency. It also has edge in this constituency as Sanwar Lal Jat had worked for the last three months as minister of irrigation.
In this caste game plan, Gujjars and Jats are likely to be pitched against each other in this constituency and both Congress and BJP are pinning their hopes on dalit voters for the victory. For state Congress chief Sachin Pilot, winning this constituency will help regain the confidence of his Lok Sabha voters and to give a fresh leash of life to the party, while for Raje, it is to show BJP's dominancy in Nasirabad.
Campaigning in this constituency was stopped at five in the evening and now leaders are going door to door to talk directly with the voters.