Gehlot’s midnight visit to Vyas seen as bid to woo Pushkarna community

Jodhpur: Chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s midnight visit on Tuesday to the home of veteran BJP legislator Suryakanta Vyas, who was denied the party ticket despite having won the last three assembly polls from Soorsagar constituency, has set rumour mills abuzz in Jodhpur. Gehlot has been attributing the denial of ticket by the BJP to Vyas’s public comments praising him. Political observers say that by sympathizing with her and constantly holding himself responsible for the denial of ticket to her, Gehlot is trying to win over the Pushkarna community in particular, the core voter base of Vyas in Soorsagar.Over his two-day campaign trail on Monday and Tuesday in Sardarpura constituency, from where Gehlot is constesting once again, the CM made sure to comment on the denial of BJP ticket to Vyas, both upon his arrival and his departure. But visiting her after wrapping up the campaign and that, too, at midnight, was not a usual move.Gehlot termed his visit to Vyas as simply a courtesy visit to honour her service to Jodhpur over a long period.“She has served Jodhpur for a long time. She has played a long innings. So, I visited her to honour her,” said Gehlot while talking to the media ahead of his departure to Jaipur on Wednesday.“She praised me for the good work done by us, which is not a wrong thing. But they cut her ticket. They should have exhibited some grace here, at least,” Gehlot said.Earlier, Vyas had expressed gratitude to Gehlot for sanctioning Rs 4.75 crore for the temple of the kuldevi of Pushkarna community.BJP has replaced Vyas with Devendra Joshi in Soorsagar while Congress is still undecided about its candidate. Brahmins are in sizable number in Soorsagar, considering which Gehlot’s move is being seen as a masterstroke.

CM Ashok Gehlot's midnight visit to Vyas seen as bid to woo Pushkarna community

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's unexpected midnight visit to the home of veteran BJP legislator Suryakanta Vyas, who was denied a party ticket, has sparked speculation in Jodhpur. Gehlot's sympathy towards Vyas, who praised him publicly, is seen as an attempt to win over the Pushkarna community, which forms the core voter base of Vyas. Gehlot referred to the denial of Vyas' ticket during his campaign in Sardarpura constituency, where he is contesting. The visit to honor Vyas' service is seen as a strategic move to gain support from the Brahmin community in Soorsagar.

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