Surajgarh heading to a close contest, leaders keep watch

SURAJGARH: As the clock announced 6 pm on Thursday, the election rallies and campaigning from public platforms came to a halt in Jhunjhunu’s Surajgarh constituency. This constituency’s over 2,34,000 voters, it seemed, enjoyed the limelight over the past few days as almost every minister in Vasundhara Raje’s government, she herself, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and several senior leaders arrived here pleading for their support in the bypoll scheduled on Saturday.
Though the voters have kept their cards close to their chest, the election as expected is being fought on the caste lines. The belief is that the dominating Jat community will decide who wins – whether BJP candidate Digambar Singh or Congress nominee Shrawan Kumar. With Neeta Yadav, a candidate from the second most dominating Yadav community, wedged strongly in the fight as Independent, the elections has triangular.
Since Raje promised to make Digambar Singh a minister in her cabinet in her public rally at Buhana near Surajgarh four days ago, it seems the former minister has gained the support of majority Jat voters. The general sentiments are that if Digambar wins, he would be able to get jobs done as he would be part of the government.
BJP leaders Rajendra Singh Rathore and Sunder Lal have made an impressive contribution in garnering support for Singh. Whilst Rathore has tried to use his sway over the local Rajput voters, Sunder Lal who is considered an influential dalit leader in the area has worked hard to take SC voters into BJP’s fold. Both the leaders have been camping in Surajgarh for the past several days trying to contact each worker personally.
As Digambar Singh went from one village to another before the model code of conduct came into force, he stressed on areas lack of development. “We have a great situation when BJP is in power in the state as well as in the Centre. My victory will ensure the area’s development,” said Singh.
On the other hand, Shrawan Kumar is burning midnight oil to take advantage of the fact that Singh is an outsider.
“How is he supposed to know anything about Surajgarh when he hardly knows the area and its people. He would disappear and forget all about Surajgarh as soon as he wins,” said Shrawan Kumar while his door-to-door campaigning in Sinhana town on Thursday.