Hema Malini, the BJP candidate from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-polls-2019-phase-2-voting-on-april-18-211287">Mathura</a>, has expressed confidence that she will win the electoral battle against the SP-BSP alliance.

"Development in Mathura is all due to my efforts. SP-BSP are only engaged in fighting with each other. There is a huge Modi wave here," Hema Malini said after casting her vote in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-2-hours-of-polling-assam-leads-in-voter-turnout-211376">second phase of Lok Sabha elections</a> on Thursday.

Mathura is one of the significant Lok Sabha seats out of 80 constituencies from the Hindi heartland of India. A Bharatiya Janata Party candidate won from here four times between 1991 and 1999, but the charm was broken by Congress's Manvendra Singh who swept the seat in 2004.

In 2009, the Rashtriya Lok Dal's Jayant Chaudhary won the Lok Sabha elections from here. The party had fought the election here in an alliance with the BJP.

In 2014, the BJP fielded Hema Malini from the seat who registered a landslide win from the constituency, defeating Chaudhary by over three lakh votes. BSP's Yogesh Kumar Dwivedi trailed, finishing in the third spot.

This time around Malini, who is confident of seizing another term from the seat, is pitted against RLD's Kunwar Narendra Singh and Congress's Mahesh Pathak. And she depends on the Modi wave.

In the birthplace of Lord Krishna, one's 'karma' is what matters. And almost all voters agree that PM Modi did well to retaliate against Pulwama terror attack.

Mathura has a sizeable but influential Jat community. The farmers aren't too happy and the general impression is that Hema Malini has not done much for rural areas, where Jats (4.5 lakh) heavily outnumber others. The BJP is trying to project Hema Malini as a Jat owing to her marriage with Bollywoood icon Dharmendra, who has also campaigned for her, but locals here think all this has little meaning.

"The government increased the wheat procurement price. But the cost of fertilizer too went up. Everything else relating to farming is under the GST. Diesel cost too is raised. There are more issues, but no one is ready to hear us," says Jagpal Singh, a farmer from Phenchari village. The locals say that Hema Malini has support base only in the city, not in rural areas which she ignored in the last five years.

The Mathura Lok Sabha constituency is part of Mathura district in Uttar Pradesh and comprises five assembly segments - Chhata, Mant, Goverdhan, Mathura and Baldev. Muslims form the second most important vote bank here.

For Congress, it looks like Mathura has offered a tough field to plough. The party has not been able to win elections from here since Manvendra Singh's victory in 2004.

The RLD is fighting this year's polls in an alliance with Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party and Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party. It must be noted that both BSP and SP has had a poor report card in Mathura. The only time when an RLD candidate won from the seat was when the party was in an alliance with the BJP.

Hema Malini, the BJP candidate from Mathura, has expressed confidence that she will win the electoral battle against the SP-BSP alliance. "Development in Mathura is all due to my efforts.

Hema Malini, the BJP candidate from Mathura, has expressed confidence that she will win the electoral battle against the SP-BSP alliance. "Development in Mathura is all due to my efforts. SP-BSP are only engaged in fighting with each other. There is a huge Modi wave here," Hema Malini said after casting her vote in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on Thursday. Mathura is one of the significant Lok Sabha seats out of 80 constituencies from the Hindi heartland of India. A Bharatiya Janata Party candidate won from here four times between 1991 and 1999, but the charm was broken by Congress's Manvendra Singh who swept the seat in 2004. In 2009, the Rashtriya Lok Dal's Jayant Chaudhary won the Lok Sabha elections from here. The party had fought the election here in an alliance with the BJP. In 2014, the BJP fielded Hema Malini from the seat who registered a landslide win from the constituency, defeating Chaudhary by over three lakh votes. BSP's Yogesh Kumar Dwivedi trailed, finishing in the third spot. This time around Malini, who is confident of seizing another term from the seat, is pitted against RLD's Kunwar Narendra Singh and Congress's Mahesh Pathak. And she depends on the Modi wave. In the birthplace of Lord Krishna, one's 'karma' is what matters. And almost all voters agree that PM Modi did well to retaliate against Pulwama terror attack. Mathura has a sizeable but influential Jat community. The farmers aren't too happy and the general impression is that Hema Malini has not done much for rural areas, where Jats (4.5 lakh) heavily outnumber others. The BJP is trying to project Hema Malini as a Jat owing to her marriage with Bollywoood icon Dharmendra, who has also campaigned for her, but locals here think all this has little meaning. "The government increased the wheat procurement price. But the cost of fertilizer too went up. Everything else relating to farming is under the GST. Diesel cost too is raised. There are more issues, but no one is ready to hear us," says Jagpal Singh, a farmer from Phenchari village. The locals say that Hema Malini has support base only in the city, not in rural areas which she ignored in the last five years. The Mathura Lok Sabha constituency is part of Mathura district in Uttar Pradesh and comprises five assembly segments - Chhata, Mant, Goverdhan, Mathura and Baldev. Muslims form the second most important vote bank here. For Congress, it looks like Mathura has offered a tough field to plough. The party has not been able to win elections from here since Manvendra Singh's victory in 2004. The RLD is fighting this year's polls in an alliance with Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party and Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party. It must be noted that both BSP and SP has had a poor report card in Mathura. The only time when an RLD candidate won from the seat was when the party was in an alliance with the BJP.

In Mathura, tough road ahead for Hema Malini in re-election bid

Pitted against the BJP chief minister Vasundhara Raje in a high-stakes contest, the Congress candidate Manvendra Singh is asking voters in the Jhalrapatan constituency whether they want their vote to go in favour of an outgoing government or for the incoming one.

The Congress leader, who switched over from the BJP just weeks before being fielded against the chief minister, is putting this poser in all his election meetings throughout the day while asserting that there was a 'wave'&nbsp;in favour of the grand-old party across the state leaving no doubt about who would form the government.

'Apna mat kisko doge&nbsp;Avavaldhi ko ya Javavaldhi ko (You will give your vote to the incoming government or the outgoing government),&nbsp;he asked the crowd in Daulatpura village during his campaign trail.

Dubbed as an 'outsider'&nbsp;and a 'turncoat' by his opponents, Singh is looking to counter these charges with an extensive outreach campaign for which he sets off in the morning and till late evening goes from village to village to interact with the people of the constituency and seek votes.

Dressed in his trademark dhoti, kurta and a colourful bandhej safa, Singh greets people along the way, obliges selfie seekers, and tells people to vote in large numbers.

His electoral pitch to voters remains the same as he reaches out to village elders, youth and even children.

In Devchi village here, he highlighted the lack of roads and drainage system, saying if villages in a 'VIP constituency'&nbsp;were in such a state then what would be the condition of other places.

'Even before polling, people know what the result would be. There is a wave that the incoming government will be of the Congress. There is no dispute on that. The only point of debate is how many seats it will get.

'Some say 130, some say 140, while some even say over 150. So when there is no doubt about this, the question to you is whether your vote will be in favour of the incoming government or the outgoing government," he asked voters in Devchi village.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/rajasthan-assembly-elections-with-his-brahmin-remark-has-cp-joshi-cut-the-nose-to-spite-the-face-179448">There are 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan and election for 199 seats would be held on December 7 </a>as the polling for one seat has to be postponed due to death of a BSP candidate. Votes would be counted on December 11.

Raje formed the state government with a massive majority in the 2013 assembly elections, in which the BJP had won a record 163 seats and the Congress could get just 21. The BSP had got three seats, while independents and candidates of other parties won 13.

With the Congress making an all-out effort to return to power in Rajasthan, Singh said the government that will come this time will be for the villages and for the welfare of the farmers.

Another common theme of his campaign meetings is highlighting the key farmers-related promises made by the Congress in its manifesto such as loan waiver for them and pension for elderly farmers for the first time.

In Rampuria village, he repeated his pitch to voters and also welcomed a BJP worker into the Congress fold.

Often, Singh also tries to connect with village elders and farmers and tells them to take care of the December 7 voting.

'This time it will be the Congress' 'hand' that will win from here,'&nbsp;said Gangaram, a farmer, referring to the party's poll symbol.

Another farmer at one of Singh's meeting, Jujhar Singh, said it was time for a change as development has lagged behind in the village.

While support for Singh in villages seems to be growing, it appears to be an uphill task for him in the city where people swear by the rapid development undertaken by Raje to give the town amenities such hospitals, schools and infrastructure.

Rampal Yadav, an auto-driver, when asked about the much-talked-about electoral battle here, said it was just a hype and in reality, it was a one-sided contest in favour of Raje.

Echoing his views, a restaurant owner said the credit for all the development in the city goes to Raje and she will win comfortably.

Manvendra Singh's wife, Chitra Singh, has also been working hard in the city, campaigning for her husband from morning to evening in a bid to win supporters.

Rajput vote is crucial for both candidates and they have been trying to woo the community with outreach efforts.

Singh also addressed a Rajput community meeting on Friday where Rajput leaders called for unity and support for him.

Chitra Singh also exhorted the gathering to unite and said the Rajput community needed to learn from other communities when it comes to acting unitedly.

The result may be difficult to guess, but Singh is making an all-out effort in what is being seen as a prestige battle.

The much-talked-about differences between the two leaders have made the Singh-Raje battle even more interesting.

Pitted against the BJP chief minister Vasundhara Raje in a high-stakes contest, the Congress candidate Manvendra Singh is asking voters in the Jhalrapatan constituency whether they want their vote to go in favour of an outgoing government or for the incoming one.

Pitted against the BJP chief minister Vasundhara Raje in a high-stakes contest, the Congress candidate Manvendra Singh is asking voters in the Jhalrapatan constituency whether they want their vote to go in favour of an outgoing government or for the incoming one. The Congress leader, who switched over from the BJP just weeks before being fielded against the chief minister, is putting this poser in all his election meetings throughout the day while asserting that there was a 'wave' in favour of the grand-old party across the state leaving no doubt about who would form the government. 'Apna mat kisko doge Avavaldhi ko ya Javavaldhi ko (You will give your vote to the incoming government or the outgoing government), he asked the crowd in Daulatpura village during his campaign trail. Dubbed as an 'outsider' and a 'turncoat' by his opponents, Singh is looking to counter these charges with an extensive outreach campaign for which he sets off in the morning and till late evening goes from village to village to interact with the people of the constituency and seek votes. Dressed in his trademark dhoti, kurta and a colourful bandhej safa, Singh greets people along the way, obliges selfie seekers, and tells people to vote in large numbers. His electoral pitch to voters remains the same as he reaches out to village elders, youth and even children. In Devchi village here, he highlighted the lack of roads and drainage system, saying if villages in a 'VIP constituency' were in such a state then what would be the condition of other places. 'Even before polling, people know what the result would be. There is a wave that the incoming government will be of the Congress. There is no dispute on that. The only point of debate is how many seats it will get. 'Some say 130, some say 140, while some even say over 150. So when there is no doubt about this, the question to you is whether your vote will be in favour of the incoming government or the outgoing government," he asked voters in Devchi village. There are 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan and election for 199 seats would be held on December 7 as the polling for one seat has to be postponed due to death of a BSP candidate. Votes would be counted on December 11. Raje formed the state government with a massive majority in the 2013 assembly elections, in which the BJP had won a record 163 seats and the Congress could get just 21. The BSP had got three seats, while independents and candidates of other parties won 13. With the Congress making an all-out effort to return to power in Rajasthan, Singh said the government that will come this time will be for the villages and for the welfare of the farmers. Another common theme of his campaign meetings is highlighting the key farmers-related promises made by the Congress in its manifesto such as loan waiver for them and pension for elderly farmers for the first time. In Rampuria village, he repeated his pitch to voters and also welcomed a BJP worker into the Congress fold. Often, Singh also tries to connect with village elders and farmers and tells them to take care of the December 7 voting. 'This time it will be the Congress' 'hand' that will win from here,' said Gangaram, a farmer, referring to the party's poll symbol. Another farmer at one of Singh's meeting, Jujhar Singh, said it was time for a change as development has lagged behind in the village. While support for Singh in villages seems to be growing, it appears to be an uphill task for him in the city where people swear by the rapid development undertaken by Raje to give the town amenities such hospitals, schools and infrastructure. Rampal Yadav, an auto-driver, when asked about the much-talked-about electoral battle here, said it was just a hype and in reality, it was a one-sided contest in favour of Raje. Echoing his views, a restaurant owner said the credit for all the development in the city goes to Raje and she will win comfortably. Manvendra Singh's wife, Chitra Singh, has also been working hard in the city, campaigning for her husband from morning to evening in a bid to win supporters. Rajput vote is crucial for both candidates and they have been trying to woo the community with outreach efforts. Singh also addressed a Rajput community meeting on Friday where Rajput leaders called for unity and support for him. Chitra Singh also exhorted the gathering to unite and said the Rajput community needed to learn from other communities when it comes to acting unitedly. The result may be difficult to guess, but Singh is making an all-out effort in what is being seen as a prestige battle. The much-talked-about differences between the two leaders have made the Singh-Raje battle even more interesting.

Will you vote for incoming government or outgoing: Congress' Manvendra Singh in Rajasthan

Fighting the most keenly observed contest in Rajasthan polls, Congress candidate Manvendra Singh said on Friday that it was an "uphill task" to beat Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in her political fortress of Jhalrapatan, but he was here to "fight and win" the election.

With a battle cry of "Jhalawar azaad hoga (Jhalawar will be free)", Singh said he is determined to live up to the challenge of taking on his formidable opponent.

"I am here to fight and win the election and not to contest for the sake of contesting," the son of former BJP leader Jaswant Singh said.

Manvendra Singh, who crossed over from the BJP to the Congress just weeks before joining the electoral fray, said when he was asked to fight against the chief minister, it took him just a second to accept the challenge.

Asked if he was viewing it as a "David and Goliath" battle, Singh answered in the negative.

"It is an uphill task no doubt. I am not belittling the challenge. It is an uphill task and I don't see myself as David at all. Besides the three Vidhan Sabha victories, she (Raje) has been MP from here for five times," Singh said.

"She has an advantage of 30 years and I have to cover that handicap of 30 years in 15 days. So it is a challenge... But it is a challenge I am living up to," said Singh, who had contested and won from Sheo assembly seat in 2013.

Rejecting his rivals' claims of being seen as an outsider here, Singh said he has been accepted "very wholeheartedly, very warmly" by the people of Jhalrapatan. 
It doesn't take people more than a day or two to know whether one belongs to them or not, Singh said.

On the kind of feedback he was getting after campaigning extensively in the Jhalrapatan constituency, Singh said: "I am being realistic. I am not pinning my hopes on a miracle, but it is not impossible. I am getting very positive feedback from the people and from the Congress workers who have been toiling on this seat for many years."

Despite the "very positive" feedback, Singh said, he keeps putting himself through a reality check and every time he gets a positive report, he keeps questioning that report to figure out where all it could go wrong.

Asked if the treatment meted out to his father by the BJP will have a bearing on the election, he said: "I don't think the BJP as such is answerable for this as Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi told me, it is some individual in Rajasthan and a couple of people in Delhi that are responsible for it."

He asserted that it will have a bearing on this election as it was a topic of discussion, not by him but by other speakers in some of the meetings.

On whether he would be in the running for the chief minister's post if he succeeds in the giant-killing act of defeating Raje, Singh said, "No, not at all."

What has made the Singh-Raje battle the most talked about is the tension between the two leaders that is well known.

Singh, 54, quit the BJP in September and joined the Congress in October after being sidelined within the ruling party, reportedly because of Raje's feud with his father Jaswant Singh, who was denied a BJP ticket in the last Lok Sabha polls.

Asked if it was also a "prestige battle" for him, Singh said, "I don't personally (take it as a prestige battle) and I don't link it to any kind of revenge that people talk about. I am just looking at it as an electoral contest and it should remain that way."

The contest should remain clean and fair, he added.

On Raje's statement that the Congress could not find a constituency for him and therefore fielded him against her from here, Singh said he didn't ask for a constituency.

"I was very clear from the time I joined the Congress party that I wasn't interested in a Vidhan Sabha election and I didn't ask for a seat for myself. So I think she is off the mark when she says that," he asserted.

He said the main issue in this constituency, on which he was taking on Raje, was farmers' distress.

"I was surprised by the distress among the farmers. Within the MLA constituency, there have been two farmer suicides in the last year or so," he said.

There is a seething anger about the garlic crop and how badly it has been handled in terms of the minimum support price issue, Singh said.

To resolve the MSP issue, the government came up with some kind of token system and those who have got a token would have their crop picked up, while others had their produce rotting in their house, he alleged.

Singh said the decision to switch to the Congress from the BJP evolved over a period of time and it was cemented by two factors - his friendship and fondness for Rahul Gandhi and a senior member of the BJP family telling him that wherever former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would be, he would be blessing him.

Fighting the most keenly observed contest in Rajasthan polls, Congress candidate Manvendra Singh said on Friday that it was an "uphill task" to beat Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in her political fortress of Jhalrapatan, but he was here to "fight and win" the election.

Fighting the most keenly observed contest in Rajasthan polls, Congress candidate Manvendra Singh said on Friday that it was an "uphill task" to beat Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in her political fortress of Jhalrapatan, but he was here to "fight and win" the election. With a battle cry of "Jhalawar azaad hoga (Jhalawar will be free)", Singh said he is determined to live up to the challenge of taking on his formidable opponent. "I am here to fight and win the election and not to contest for the sake of contesting," the son of former BJP leader Jaswant Singh said. Manvendra Singh, who crossed over from the BJP to the Congress just weeks before joining the electoral fray, said when he was asked to fight against the chief minister, it took him just a second to accept the challenge. Asked if he was viewing it as a "David and Goliath" battle, Singh answered in the negative. "It is an uphill task no doubt. I am not belittling the challenge. It is an uphill task and I don't see myself as David at all. Besides the three Vidhan Sabha victories, she (Raje) has been MP from here for five times," Singh said. "She has an advantage of 30 years and I have to cover that handicap of 30 years in 15 days. So it is a challenge... But it is a challenge I am living up to," said Singh, who had contested and won from Sheo assembly seat in 2013. Rejecting his rivals' claims of being seen as an outsider here, Singh said he has been accepted "very wholeheartedly, very warmly" by the people of Jhalrapatan. It doesn't take people more than a day or two to know whether one belongs to them or not, Singh said. On the kind of feedback he was getting after campaigning extensively in the Jhalrapatan constituency, Singh said: "I am being realistic. I am not pinning my hopes on a miracle, but it is not impossible. I am getting very positive feedback from the people and from the Congress workers who have been toiling on this seat for many years." Despite the "very positive" feedback, Singh said, he keeps putting himself through a reality check and every time he gets a positive report, he keeps questioning that report to figure out where all it could go wrong. Asked if the treatment meted out to his father by the BJP will have a bearing on the election, he said: "I don't think the BJP as such is answerable for this as Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi told me, it is some individual in Rajasthan and a couple of people in Delhi that are responsible for it." He asserted that it will have a bearing on this election as it was a topic of discussion, not by him but by other speakers in some of the meetings. On whether he would be in the running for the chief minister's post if he succeeds in the giant-killing act of defeating Raje, Singh said, "No, not at all." What has made the Singh-Raje battle the most talked about is the tension between the two leaders that is well known. Singh, 54, quit the BJP in September and joined the Congress in October after being sidelined within the ruling party, reportedly because of Raje's feud with his father Jaswant Singh, who was denied a BJP ticket in the last Lok Sabha polls. Asked if it was also a "prestige battle" for him, Singh said, "I don't personally (take it as a prestige battle) and I don't link it to any kind of revenge that people talk about. I am just looking at it as an electoral contest and it should remain that way." The contest should remain clean and fair, he added. On Raje's statement that the Congress could not find a constituency for him and therefore fielded him against her from here, Singh said he didn't ask for a constituency. "I was very clear from the time I joined the Congress party that I wasn't interested in a Vidhan Sabha election and I didn't ask for a seat for myself. So I think she is off the mark when she says that," he asserted. He said the main issue in this constituency, on which he was taking on Raje, was farmers' distress. "I was surprised by the distress among the farmers. Within the MLA constituency, there have been two farmer suicides in the last year or so," he said. There is a seething anger about the garlic crop and how badly it has been handled in terms of the minimum support price issue, Singh said. To resolve the MSP issue, the government came up with some kind of token system and those who have got a token would have their crop picked up, while others had their produce rotting in their house, he alleged. Singh said the decision to switch to the Congress from the BJP evolved over a period of time and it was cemented by two factors - his friendship and fondness for Rahul Gandhi and a senior member of the BJP family telling him that wherever former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would be, he would be blessing him.

Uphill task to beat Raje, but I'm here to win: Manvendra Singh

The Rajasthan Assembly election is turning out to be more than an electoral contest; at the highest level, it has become a personal fight. The Congress has shrewdly capitalised on its new entrant Manvendra Singh’s desire for revenge against the Bharatiya Janata Party for having sidelined him as well as his father since 2014.&nbsp;

After his recent arrival to the Congress, Manvendra Singh had expressed disinterest in contesting the Assembly poll, preferring to keep his ammunition dry for the 2019 Lok Sabha battle. But the party’s high command successfully played on his hurt and persuaded him to not just fight the immediate battle but also take on incumbent chief minister Vasundhara Raje in her backyard, Jhalrapatan. &nbsp;

Four years ago, Vasundhara Raje had worked hard to ensure the defeat of Manvendra Singh’s father and then veteran BJP leader Jaswant Singh, who had contested as an independent candidate after the BJP denied him a ticket. Interestingly, the ticket had gone to Col Sonaram, who had crossed over to the party from the Congress and was backed by Vasundhara Raje. And, although Manvendra Singh had continued thereafter as a BJP legislator, he was kept at an arm’s distance by Vasundhara Raje — whose clout ensured that he remained cut off from the party’s central leadership too.&nbsp;

The personal clash between Raje and Jaswant Singh’s family goes back even earlier. In 2007, Jaswant Singh’s wife had filed a case in court against the depiction of Vasundhara Raje as a goddess in one of the posters and alleged that the image had hurt her religious sentiments. In the same year, the Vasundhara Raje regime had been quick to order a probe into an unsubstantiated allegation that guests at a function hosted by Jaswant Singh had been served with opium-laced milk! &nbsp;

Whatever the outcome may be, it is a fact that for now Jhalrapatan is poised for an interesting battle. Manvendra Singh may have preferred a constituency in Barmer for his debut contest as a Congressman, but now he has acquired a pan-Rajasthan image. It cannot be that he is unaware of the pitfalls of a head-on collision with the formidable Chief Minister. If he loses, it will be seen as a grave personal setback; for the Congress, though, it will be just a constituency lost. On the other hand, a victory will strengthen his stature within the Congress. More importantly, though, he will have had his revenge. &nbsp;

But the recent developments are unlikely to bring much cheer to the Congress as far as the Rajput vote-bank in the state is concerned. The Congress has fielded just two candidates from the Marwar region, where the Rajput community has a considerable sway. According to media reports, Manvendra Singh felt that the Congress ought to have given tickets to more Rajputs in the region, though he was quick to state that he had not expressed “displeasure” with the party. In contrast, the BJP has given tickets to as many as 10 Rajput candidates from Marwar. The first list the Congress released had in all 12 Rajputs, a number which was less than even the seats that the Brahmins got. The second list of 40 odd candidates did not improve the position.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Personal rivalry is at play elsewhere too. Sitting Member of Parliament Harish Chandra Meena has joined the Congress, and one reason for his switchover is his opposition to Kirori Lal Meena, who is now in the BJP camp. The two heavyweight Meena leaders could not see eye to eye, with each working overtime to project themselves as the real leader of the community. For the Congress, it’s a welcome development since it could solidify the Meena community’s support for the Congress at a time when the former was feeling left out with the Congress making overtures to its traditional political rivals, the Gujjars and the Jats. &nbsp;

It is possible that Sachin Pilot, a Gujjar, could benefit from this Meena- Gujjar combine development (if it works out), given that he is being talked of as a chief ministerial candidate and would be contesting the Assembly poll. But there is a catch. Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, the other strong contender for chief ministership in case the Congress wins, too is fighting the election. More significantly, the first list of candidates released by the party is said to be loaded in his favour, since many of the names he recommended strongly have found favour with the party’s high command. &nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
For now, though, both Pilot and Gehlot have to tackle internal dissensions over ticket distribution. It may well be that, if the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP in the state manages to retain power, it would be more on account of disarray in the Congress camp and less due to the BJP’s popularity.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The Rajasthan Assembly election is turning out to be more than an electoral contest; at the highest level, it has become a personal fight. The Congress has shrewdly capitalised on its new entrant Manvendra Singh’s desire for revenge against the Bharatiya Janata Party for having sidelined him as well as his father since 2014.

The Rajasthan Assembly election is turning out to be more than an electoral contest; at the highest level, it has become a personal fight. The Congress has shrewdly capitalised on its new entrant Manvendra Singh’s desire for revenge against the Bharatiya Janata Party for having sidelined him as well as his father since 2014. After his recent arrival to the Congress, Manvendra Singh had expressed disinterest in contesting the Assembly poll, preferring to keep his ammunition dry for the 2019 Lok Sabha battle. But the party’s high command successfully played on his hurt and persuaded him to not just fight the immediate battle but also take on incumbent chief minister Vasundhara Raje in her backyard, Jhalrapatan. Four years ago, Vasundhara Raje had worked hard to ensure the defeat of Manvendra Singh’s father and then veteran BJP leader Jaswant Singh, who had contested as an independent candidate after the BJP denied him a ticket. Interestingly, the ticket had gone to Col Sonaram, who had crossed over to the party from the Congress and was backed by Vasundhara Raje. And, although Manvendra Singh had continued thereafter as a BJP legislator, he was kept at an arm’s distance by Vasundhara Raje — whose clout ensured that he remained cut off from the party’s central leadership too. The personal clash between Raje and Jaswant Singh’s family goes back even earlier. In 2007, Jaswant Singh’s wife had filed a case in court against the depiction of Vasundhara Raje as a goddess in one of the posters and alleged that the image had hurt her religious sentiments. In the same year, the Vasundhara Raje regime had been quick to order a probe into an unsubstantiated allegation that guests at a function hosted by Jaswant Singh had been served with opium-laced milk! Whatever the outcome may be, it is a fact that for now Jhalrapatan is poised for an interesting battle. Manvendra Singh may have preferred a constituency in Barmer for his debut contest as a Congressman, but now he has acquired a pan-Rajasthan image. It cannot be that he is unaware of the pitfalls of a head-on collision with the formidable Chief Minister. If he loses, it will be seen as a grave personal setback; for the Congress, though, it will be just a constituency lost. On the other hand, a victory will strengthen his stature within the Congress. More importantly, though, he will have had his revenge. But the recent developments are unlikely to bring much cheer to the Congress as far as the Rajput vote-bank in the state is concerned. The Congress has fielded just two candidates from the Marwar region, where the Rajput community has a considerable sway. According to media reports, Manvendra Singh felt that the Congress ought to have given tickets to more Rajputs in the region, though he was quick to state that he had not expressed “displeasure” with the party. In contrast, the BJP has given tickets to as many as 10 Rajput candidates from Marwar. The first list the Congress released had in all 12 Rajputs, a number which was less than even the seats that the Brahmins got. The second list of 40 odd candidates did not improve the position. Personal rivalry is at play elsewhere too. Sitting Member of Parliament Harish Chandra Meena has joined the Congress, and one reason for his switchover is his opposition to Kirori Lal Meena, who is now in the BJP camp. The two heavyweight Meena leaders could not see eye to eye, with each working overtime to project themselves as the real leader of the community. For the Congress, it’s a welcome development since it could solidify the Meena community’s support for the Congress at a time when the former was feeling left out with the Congress making overtures to its traditional political rivals, the Gujjars and the Jats. It is possible that Sachin Pilot, a Gujjar, could benefit from this Meena- Gujjar combine development (if it works out), given that he is being talked of as a chief ministerial candidate and would be contesting the Assembly poll. But there is a catch. Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, the other strong contender for chief ministership in case the Congress wins, too is fighting the election. More significantly, the first list of candidates released by the party is said to be loaded in his favour, since many of the names he recommended strongly have found favour with the party’s high command. For now, though, both Pilot and Gehlot have to tackle internal dissensions over ticket distribution. It may well be that, if the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP in the state manages to retain power, it would be more on account of disarray in the Congress camp and less due to the BJP’s popularity. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Battle in Rajasthan isn’t merely about personalities; it’s deeply personal too 

The Congress on Saturday released its second list of 32 candidates for the December 7 Rajasthan Assembly elections on Saturday. It has fielded former BJP leader Jaswant Singh’s son Manvendra Singh against Chief Minister Vansundhara Raje in the Jhalrapatan constituency.

The list was released by party general secretary and in charge of Rajasthan unit Mukul Wasnik. The party had declared 152 candidates in the first list on Thursday night.

Manvendra Singh, a former BJP MLA from Sheo, in September quit the saffron party to join the Congress ahead of the Assembly elections.

Senior Congress leaders, including Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot and CP Joshi, are contesting the elections.

The Congress on Saturday released its second list of 32 candidates for the December 7 Rajasthan Assembly elections on Saturday. It has fielded former BJP leader Jaswant Singh’s son Manvendra Singh against Chief Minister Vansundhara Raje in the Jhalrapatan constituency.

The Congress on Saturday released its second list of 32 candidates for the December 7 Rajasthan Assembly elections on Saturday. It has fielded former BJP leader Jaswant Singh’s son Manvendra Singh against Chief Minister Vansundhara Raje in the Jhalrapatan constituency. The list was released by party general secretary and in charge of Rajasthan unit Mukul Wasnik. The party had declared 152 candidates in the first list on Thursday night. Manvendra Singh, a former BJP MLA from Sheo, in September quit the saffron party to join the Congress ahead of the Assembly elections. Senior Congress leaders, including Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot and CP Joshi, are contesting the elections.

Congress releases second list for Rajasthan, Manvendra Singh to take on Vasundhara Raje

In terms of optics, the crossing over of veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jaswant Singh’s son, Manvendra Singh, to the Congress just weeks ahead of an Assembly election, is somewhat of an embarrassment for the BJP and a delight for the Congress. Beyond this, the development will neither greatly dent nor boost the prospects of the ruling party in Rajasthan. 
 
Manvendra Singh is not a political heavyweight in the State, and his family lineage does not count for much in today’s politics, although he comes from a caste that enjoys considerable influence there. &nbsp;

Besides, his decision did not have an element of surprise. He had been suspended from the BJP in 2014, after the party said that he had campaigned against its official candidate in Barmer. Incidentally, Jaswant Singh had rebelled against the party and contested from this constituency as an independent in the election, after the BJP denied him a ticket. It was, thus, a matter of time before Manvendra Singh exited. 
 
A year before the 2014 Lok Sabha election, in which his father was sidelined, Manvendra Singh had successfully contested the Rajasthan Assembly election on a BJP ticket from a constituency in Barmer, the family’s home ground. He held on to the Assembly seat despite being suspended from the party.&nbsp;

Having been in active politics for just under two decades, Manvendra Singh could not expand his reach beyond Barmer, and is not seen as a pan-Rajasthan figure, unlike his father who had a national prominence, given his stature in the BJP during the Vajpayee-Advani era. Jaswant Singh served in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Cabinet as Minister for Defence, Minister for External Affairs, and Minister for Finance. Throughout his tenure, he was, therefore, part of the prestigious Cabinet Committee on Security. And yet, for all these achievements, Jaswant Singh’s reach in Rajasthan was largely limited to Barmer — a legacy from which Manvendra Singh later benefitted.&nbsp;

It is true that Manvendra Singh, a former territorial Army officer, is both erudite and articulate. At one point, he was seen within the BJP as a rising young talent who could be groomed for bigger roles. But despite his father’s stature, and his own abilities, he could not make a mark in his own home State because of the presence of seniors like Vasundhara Raje. His electoral victories were attributed more to the BJP’s strong grassroots presence than to his persona. 
 
Caste considerations also came in the way since the party was looking forward to expanding its base among other dominant groups such as the Gujjars. Post-2014, after Jaswant Singh failed in his bid to get elected to the Lok Sabha as an independent — losing to a BJP candidate — the impression gained roots that Manvendra Singh had no political future as a standalone.&nbsp;&nbsp;

His decision to join the Congress has to be understood in the above backdrop. As a Congress nominee (there is every possibility of his getting a ticket from one of the Assembly constituencies in Barmer), he will have the support of an organisation with a strong presence in the State. There is also a political sense in the timing of his decision; the BJP regime led by Vasundhara Raje is seen to be on the back foot and there is already talk that it may not be able to retain power. Additionally, Manvendra Singh has the support of a local outfit, the Swabhiman Sena, with which he has been closely associated and which he claims is being hounded by the Raje Government. Needless to add, this Sena will now, at least largely, back the Congress in the coming Assembly poll.&nbsp;

While Manvendra Singh and his family’s influence does not extend significantly to all of Rajasthan, it does exist in the eight Assembly constituencies in the Barmer Lok Sabha jurisdiction, primarily among the Rajput sections of society, whose cause the Swabhiman Sena has been espousing. Given that the Rajputs have been a strong vote-base of the BJP, the possibility of the Congress using Manvendra Singh’s arrival to eat into that segment is real.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

In terms of optics, the crossing over of veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jaswant Singh’s son, Manvendra Singh, to the Congress just weeks ahead of an Assembly election, is somewhat of an embarrassment for the BJP and a delight for the Congress.

In terms of optics, the crossing over of veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jaswant Singh’s son, Manvendra Singh, to the Congress just weeks ahead of an Assembly election, is somewhat of an embarrassment for the BJP and a delight for the Congress. Beyond this, the development will neither greatly dent nor boost the prospects of the ruling party in Rajasthan. Manvendra Singh is not a political heavyweight in the State, and his family lineage does not count for much in today’s politics, although he comes from a caste that enjoys considerable influence there. Besides, his decision did not have an element of surprise. He had been suspended from the BJP in 2014, after the party said that he had campaigned against its official candidate in Barmer. Incidentally, Jaswant Singh had rebelled against the party and contested from this constituency as an independent in the election, after the BJP denied him a ticket. It was, thus, a matter of time before Manvendra Singh exited. A year before the 2014 Lok Sabha election, in which his father was sidelined, Manvendra Singh had successfully contested the Rajasthan Assembly election on a BJP ticket from a constituency in Barmer, the family’s home ground. He held on to the Assembly seat despite being suspended from the party. Having been in active politics for just under two decades, Manvendra Singh could not expand his reach beyond Barmer, and is not seen as a pan-Rajasthan figure, unlike his father who had a national prominence, given his stature in the BJP during the Vajpayee-Advani era. Jaswant Singh served in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Cabinet as Minister for Defence, Minister for External Affairs, and Minister for Finance. Throughout his tenure, he was, therefore, part of the prestigious Cabinet Committee on Security. And yet, for all these achievements, Jaswant Singh’s reach in Rajasthan was largely limited to Barmer — a legacy from which Manvendra Singh later benefitted. It is true that Manvendra Singh, a former territorial Army officer, is both erudite and articulate. At one point, he was seen within the BJP as a rising young talent who could be groomed for bigger roles. But despite his father’s stature, and his own abilities, he could not make a mark in his own home State because of the presence of seniors like Vasundhara Raje. His electoral victories were attributed more to the BJP’s strong grassroots presence than to his persona. Caste considerations also came in the way since the party was looking forward to expanding its base among other dominant groups such as the Gujjars. Post-2014, after Jaswant Singh failed in his bid to get elected to the Lok Sabha as an independent — losing to a BJP candidate — the impression gained roots that Manvendra Singh had no political future as a standalone. His decision to join the Congress has to be understood in the above backdrop. As a Congress nominee (there is every possibility of his getting a ticket from one of the Assembly constituencies in Barmer), he will have the support of an organisation with a strong presence in the State. There is also a political sense in the timing of his decision; the BJP regime led by Vasundhara Raje is seen to be on the back foot and there is already talk that it may not be able to retain power. Additionally, Manvendra Singh has the support of a local outfit, the Swabhiman Sena, with which he has been closely associated and which he claims is being hounded by the Raje Government. Needless to add, this Sena will now, at least largely, back the Congress in the coming Assembly poll. While Manvendra Singh and his family’s influence does not extend significantly to all of Rajasthan, it does exist in the eight Assembly constituencies in the Barmer Lok Sabha jurisdiction, primarily among the Rajput sections of society, whose cause the Swabhiman Sena has been espousing. Given that the Rajputs have been a strong vote-base of the BJP, the possibility of the Congress using Manvendra Singh’s arrival to eat into that segment is real. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Manvendra Singh's induction a delight for Congress

Two images on the Internet must have jolted the BJP out of reverie. Manvendra Singh – BJP MLA from Sheo – is common in both the frames. In one of the photos, he is seen clasping the hand of Congress President, Rahul Gandhi, barely concealing the smile after having formally joined the party on Wednesday. In the next photo, Manvendra’s smile opens up into a warm laughter as he shares the dais with Rajasthan state Congress President Sachin Pilot who appear to be basking in the reflected warmth of the new entrant in the frame, confident the Rajput leader shall deliver the goods in a state gearing up for December 7 polls.

Former BJP MP from Barmer, Colonel Manvendra Singh’s calling card is as much about him as his father and veteran BJP leader Jaswant Singh. The former Union Minister, who distinguished himself in the role of External Affairs, Defence and Finance Minister under the Prime Ministership of AB Vajpayee, is now in a coma after having suffered head injuries following a fall in his house four years ago.

A founding member of the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980, Jaswant Singh has been five times Rajya Sabha MP and was elected to the Lok Sabha four times over. But his distance with the BJP grew after the party’s defeat in 2009 Lok Sabha elections. He was given party ticket from Darjeeling and left to fend for himself. His book on India’s Partition in which he praised Muhammad Ali Jinnah didn’t go down well with the party either.

Matters came to a head in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections when he was denied party ticket. But Jaswant dug in his heels and decided to contest the 2014 elections from Barmer as an independent. The party lost no time in expelling him after he refused to budge. Manvendra campaigned for his father and even he was suspended from the party.

The seed of antagonism had already been sown then. Questions can be raised as to what took Manvendra so long in deciding BJP was not the party that can assure his longevity in politics. But can there be a better opportunity to join a rival party whose ascendancy and win in the forthcoming assembly polls is finding articulation in various opinion polls conducted by media houses so far.

A leader is worth his salt only if he can smell the change in the wind. A winnable candidate holds a stronger chance of being welcomed into the new party. BJP president Amit Shah has mastered this craft better than the rest in importing leaders from other parties, particularly the Congress.

Manvendra’s entry into the Congress comes at a time when the forthcoming assembly polls in states like Rajasthan, MP and Chhattisgarh are being touted as the semi-finals before the finals to be played out across the country early 2019 when the next Lok Sabha elections will be held. The Congress feels his induction will help the party consolidate Rajput votes.

But more than the timing, it’s the sure-fire optimism with which Manvendra has sought to pitch himself that will set the Rajasthan battlefield on the course of a dramatic outcome. “The voters shall seek revenge for the humiliation of their leader and my father,” thundered Manvendra from Congress HQ at Akbar Road. Revenge is in the air. The statement might faintly echo the pain and agony of the protagonist, from Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur.

The political setting is far removed from the 2012 Bollywoodian drama, yet it carries the ingredients for a blockbuster.

Caste politics hold sway in the electoral arithmetic of Rajasthan. Though Rajputs constitutes about 8 per cent of the total votes in Rajasthan, they influence votes in about one-fourth of the total seats in Rajasthan, particularly, in the Marwar region of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Nagaur, Jalore and Sikar. The current Rajasthan assembly has 26 elected Rajput members out of 200 seats. Together with Jats, who constitute about 17 per cent of total votes, Rajput votes matter in over 50 assembly seats across Rajasthan.

The Vasundhara government has had a fallout with the Rajput voters following the death of gangster Anand Pal Singh who was killed in an alleged police encounter. Rajputs have been BJP supporters in the past three decades after former Rajasthan CM, BJP veteran and former vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat carefully nurtured this influential vote bank. Rajputs were angry that the Vasundhara Raje government did precious little to withdraw criminal cases against community leaders.

The shift in Rajput votes has already cost BJP two parliamentary seats in by-elections held last February. Recently, Raje shot down Amit Shah’s proposal to make Union Minister – Gajendra Singh Shekhawat – the Rajasthan unit chief. She foisted her own candidate Madan Lal Saini, an OBC leader.

By inducting Manvendra into the fold, the Congress has been quick to cash in on the Rajput anger. The Congress seemed to have already taken Jats into confidence by addressing their insecurities. Gujjars also remain an influential vote bank. Of late, even Gujjars seem to have moved away from the BJP. The community sees a promise in young Gujjar leader and Congress state president Sachin Pilot to lead the state in future.

If opinion polls are anything to go by, Raje’s popularity as CM has been at an all-time low. Given Rajasthan’s history in the past three decades of not repeating the incumbent government, Raje, in the throes of anti-incumbency, has an uphill task.

Will the Rajasthan verdict prove Manvendra’s presence prophetic? Will he be able to bask in the glory of his statement he gave last month, the day he cut his umbilical cord with BJP – Kamal ka phool, hamari bhool. The bigger question still is – Will Rahul’s gamble pay off? Will be able to do an Amit Shah?

(This article was originally published on DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-rajasthan-s-caste-cauldron-2676800">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

Two images on the Internet must have jolted the BJP out of reverie. Manvendra Singh – BJP MLA from Sheo – is common in both the frames. In one of the photos, he is seen clasping the hand of Congress President, Rahul Gandhi, barely concealing the smile after having formally joined the party on Wednesday.

Two images on the Internet must have jolted the BJP out of reverie. Manvendra Singh – BJP MLA from Sheo – is common in both the frames. In one of the photos, he is seen clasping the hand of Congress President, Rahul Gandhi, barely concealing the smile after having formally joined the party on Wednesday. In the next photo, Manvendra’s smile opens up into a warm laughter as he shares the dais with Rajasthan state Congress President Sachin Pilot who appear to be basking in the reflected warmth of the new entrant in the frame, confident the Rajput leader shall deliver the goods in a state gearing up for December 7 polls. Former BJP MP from Barmer, Colonel Manvendra Singh’s calling card is as much about him as his father and veteran BJP leader Jaswant Singh. The former Union Minister, who distinguished himself in the role of External Affairs, Defence and Finance Minister under the Prime Ministership of AB Vajpayee, is now in a coma after having suffered head injuries following a fall in his house four years ago. A founding member of the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980, Jaswant Singh has been five times Rajya Sabha MP and was elected to the Lok Sabha four times over. But his distance with the BJP grew after the party’s defeat in 2009 Lok Sabha elections. He was given party ticket from Darjeeling and left to fend for himself. His book on India’s Partition in which he praised Muhammad Ali Jinnah didn’t go down well with the party either. Matters came to a head in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections when he was denied party ticket. But Jaswant dug in his heels and decided to contest the 2014 elections from Barmer as an independent. The party lost no time in expelling him after he refused to budge. Manvendra campaigned for his father and even he was suspended from the party. The seed of antagonism had already been sown then. Questions can be raised as to what took Manvendra so long in deciding BJP was not the party that can assure his longevity in politics. But can there be a better opportunity to join a rival party whose ascendancy and win in the forthcoming assembly polls is finding articulation in various opinion polls conducted by media houses so far. A leader is worth his salt only if he can smell the change in the wind. A winnable candidate holds a stronger chance of being welcomed into the new party. BJP president Amit Shah has mastered this craft better than the rest in importing leaders from other parties, particularly the Congress. Manvendra’s entry into the Congress comes at a time when the forthcoming assembly polls in states like Rajasthan, MP and Chhattisgarh are being touted as the semi-finals before the finals to be played out across the country early 2019 when the next Lok Sabha elections will be held. The Congress feels his induction will help the party consolidate Rajput votes. But more than the timing, it’s the sure-fire optimism with which Manvendra has sought to pitch himself that will set the Rajasthan battlefield on the course of a dramatic outcome. “The voters shall seek revenge for the humiliation of their leader and my father,” thundered Manvendra from Congress HQ at Akbar Road. Revenge is in the air. The statement might faintly echo the pain and agony of the protagonist, from Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur. The political setting is far removed from the 2012 Bollywoodian drama, yet it carries the ingredients for a blockbuster. Caste politics hold sway in the electoral arithmetic of Rajasthan. Though Rajputs constitutes about 8 per cent of the total votes in Rajasthan, they influence votes in about one-fourth of the total seats in Rajasthan, particularly, in the Marwar region of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Nagaur, Jalore and Sikar. The current Rajasthan assembly has 26 elected Rajput members out of 200 seats. Together with Jats, who constitute about 17 per cent of total votes, Rajput votes matter in over 50 assembly seats across Rajasthan. The Vasundhara government has had a fallout with the Rajput voters following the death of gangster Anand Pal Singh who was killed in an alleged police encounter. Rajputs have been BJP supporters in the past three decades after former Rajasthan CM, BJP veteran and former vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat carefully nurtured this influential vote bank. Rajputs were angry that the Vasundhara Raje government did precious little to withdraw criminal cases against community leaders. The shift in Rajput votes has already cost BJP two parliamentary seats in by-elections held last February. Recently, Raje shot down Amit Shah’s proposal to make Union Minister – Gajendra Singh Shekhawat – the Rajasthan unit chief. She foisted her own candidate Madan Lal Saini, an OBC leader. By inducting Manvendra into the fold, the Congress has been quick to cash in on the Rajput anger. The Congress seemed to have already taken Jats into confidence by addressing their insecurities. Gujjars also remain an influential vote bank. Of late, even Gujjars seem to have moved away from the BJP. The community sees a promise in young Gujjar leader and Congress state president Sachin Pilot to lead the state in future. If opinion polls are anything to go by, Raje’s popularity as CM has been at an all-time low. Given Rajasthan’s history in the past three decades of not repeating the incumbent government, Raje, in the throes of anti-incumbency, has an uphill task. Will the Rajasthan verdict prove Manvendra’s presence prophetic? Will he be able to bask in the glory of his statement he gave last month, the day he cut his umbilical cord with BJP – Kamal ka phool, hamari bhool. The bigger question still is – Will Rahul’s gamble pay off? Will be able to do an Amit Shah? (This article was originally published on DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Caste politics hold sway in the electoral arithmetic of Rajasthan

Rajasthan BJP MLA Manvendra Singh, who is the son of former Union minister Jaswant Singh, joined the Congress on Wednesday ahead of assembly elections in the state.

Singh met Congress president Rahul Gandhi before joining the party in the presence of leaders, including Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot, Avinash Pande and Randeep Surjewala.

The party announced the move at a press conference.

Congress leaders believe his joining the party will help bring in Rajput votes in the assembly polls.&nbsp;

Rajasthan BJP MLA Manvendra Singh, who is the son of former Union minister Jaswant Singh, joined the Congress on Wednesday ahead of assembly elections in the state.

Rajasthan BJP MLA Manvendra Singh, who is the son of former Union minister Jaswant Singh, joined the Congress on Wednesday ahead of assembly elections in the state. Singh met Congress president Rahul Gandhi before joining the party in the presence of leaders, including Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot, Avinash Pande and Randeep Surjewala. The party announced the move at a press conference. Congress leaders believe his joining the party will help bring in Rajput votes in the assembly polls.

Ahead of Rajasthan election, BJP MLA Manvendra Singh joins Congress

Ahead of the Assembly polls in Rajasthan, former Union minister Jaswant Singh's son and BJP MLA Manvendra Singh Saturday said he has quit the party, news agency PTI reported.

Singh&nbsp;announced the decision at a press conference after addressing a rally at Pachpadra in his Barmer constituency.

He said he was yet to take a decision on whether to join the Congress or not.

At the rally, he indicated that joining the Bharatiya Janata Party was a "big mistake".

''Kamal ka phool, badi bhool,'' he said.

When contacted by PTI after the public meeting, dubbed swabhiman or self-respect rally, he said, I am no longer in BJP.

Earlier, the MLA referred to the denial of a party ticket to his father Jaswant Singh in the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

Ahead of the Assembly polls in Rajasthan, former Union minister Jaswant Singh's son and BJP MLA Manvendra Singh Saturday said he has quit the party, news agency PTI reported.

Ahead of the Assembly polls in Rajasthan, former Union minister Jaswant Singh's son and BJP MLA Manvendra Singh Saturday said he has quit the party, news agency PTI reported. Singh announced the decision at a press conference after addressing a rally at Pachpadra in his Barmer constituency. He said he was yet to take a decision on whether to join the Congress or not. At the rally, he indicated that joining the Bharatiya Janata Party was a "big mistake". ''Kamal ka phool, badi bhool,'' he said. When contacted by PTI after the public meeting, dubbed swabhiman or self-respect rally, he said, I am no longer in BJP. Earlier, the MLA referred to the denial of a party ticket to his father Jaswant Singh in the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

Rajasthan: Jaswant Singh's son Manvendra Singh quits BJP ahead of polls  

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