Lok Sabha elections 2024: Key constituencies in Rajasthan's first phase of voting

Indians are voting in the first phase of18th Lok Sabha elections on April 19, a mammoth exercise that will go on till June 1. These elections will occur across seven phases, with results set to be declared on June 4, 2024.

The northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan is an important battleground and is set to vote in two phases. The first phase on April 19, witnessed electoral showdowns in 12constituencies.

These are Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa, Nagaur.

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Key constituencies going for polls in the first phase in Rajasthan:

Churu - A Jat stronghold

Churu saw a face-off between BJP's Devendra Jhajharia and Congress's Rahul Kaswan. The incumbent MP, Kaswan, now representing Congress, faced off against his former faction, with local controversy swirling around the switch.

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Rajendra Rathore, popularly known as 'Kaka', took a centre stage in the Churu Lok Sabha polls. Kaswan alleges that Rathore, particularly, played a key role in preventing him from contesting the BJP ticket. The Jat-dominated region is ripe with issues like farmer loans and water scarcity as the stage is set for a heated electoral battle.

Sikar

In Sikar, Congress's coalition partner CPI(M)'s Comrade Amra Ram squared off against BJP's Swami Sumedhanand.

With a significant Jat influence, the contest hinged on issues like agricultural pricing, particularly for commodities like onions. Sumedhanand is also navigating scrutiny over his origin as he is a native of Haryana's Rohtak. He has promised local initiatives like an army recruitment centre to bolster his standing. The constituency's more than 21 lakh eligible voters are poised to decide who is going to take the reigns next.

Nagaur - Old rivalries

Nagaur witnessed a fierce battle between former rivals - Congress's Jyoti Mirdha and RLP's Hanuman Beniwal.

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Beniwal, now aligned with Congress, sought to consolidate his influence as a prominent Jat leader. Meanwhile, Mirdha's saffron party defection is now opening historical animosities driving the contest in this Jat-dominated bastion.

Jaipur - Controversies and women empowerment

In Jaipur, controversies swirled around Congress' candidature changes, with Pratap Singh Khachariyawas replacing Sunil Sharma amid speculations tied to his association with right-wing platforms.

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BJP's fielding of Manju Sharma, a seasoned party member, underscored its push for female representation. With a history of BJP dominance, Jaipur remains a crucial constituency, where past electoral margins hint at voter sentiments.

(With inputs from agencies)