Rajasthan polling on, Raje-Gehlot worried

Jaipur: Rajasthan polls today could define the emerging power equation in the state. Who will rule Rajasthan is not the only question the tight fight will answer but it will also decide the fate of the key players who have a lot at stake in these polls.

Vasundhara Raje is one such player. The last time she rode to power with a sweeping majority but this time around its a tough road ahead for the state's first woman chief minister. Raje is battling anti-incumbency among other things. She started her campaign on a pro-development plank but midway switched over to an anti-terror plank.

For her rival, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot it's a do or die political battle. The Congress party did not project him as its Chief Ministerial candidate. Two major voting blocs, like the Jats and government employees are still angry with him.

But Gehlot believes the strong corruption charges against the Raje govt will help him.

"The BJP people are saying that Rajasthan will not stop but actually Rajasthan has decided that it will not get sold anymore," said Gehlot.

Both parties have other challenges. One is the large number of rebels who can topple political equations, especially for the BJP.

Leaders like Kirori Lal Meena and Vishwendra Singh in the Gujjar-Meena belt of eastern Rajasthan are also key to sway the scales either ways.

BSP leader Mayawati is also an affecting factor. The last time Mayawati's party won just two seats in the state but its percentage of votes equalled the margin by which Congress lost. The BSP is contesting all 200 seats this time.

"The way you people have gathered to support, I have no doubt you will vote us in," said Mayawati at a rally in Rajasthan.

With two years of Gujjar protests in a row for reservation and a string of unkept quota promises to various castes by the BJP, the caste factor has come to the fore like never before in these polls.

Caste, especially in the hinterland, is back to being the singular deciding factor for many areas and this along with rebels could well turn the political battle away from being bipolar as it has traditionally been in Rajasthan.

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