Brother vs brother. Cricketer vs outsider. Olympian vs cricket administrator. Turncoat vs Thakur. Pilot vs farmer. Old BJP vs new BJP. And Congress vs Congress. It is all happening in Rajasthan this election.
Politics would not have such a fascinating spectacle had it been just about politics. Several side stories compete with the main battle of ballot turning it into a compelling saga of personal clashes, egos, vendetta and intrigues.
You needn’t go farther than Rajasthan to discover every possible subplot of this year’s election. Here are some of the most fascinating contests.
Brother vs Brother, Dausa: When former Rajasthan DGP Harish Meena was picked by the BJP as its candidate for the tribal-dominated Dausa seat, everybody was surprised. Meena’s equation with Vasundhara Raje was considered a bit tense because of the cop’s proximity with Ashok Gehlot.
But the season of surprises didn’t end with the BJP’s choice. The Congress shifted his brother, Union minister Namonarain Meena, from the adjoining Tonk-Sawai Madhopur constituency to turn into a battle of siblings.
While the brothers get ready to clash, NPP leader Kirori Lal Meena is also getting ready to enter the fray. The reason: his brother Jagmohan who was considered the frontrunner for the Congress ticket before Namonarain was chosen.
Shooter vs Cricket administrator, Jaipur Rural: Athens Olympics silver-medalist Rajyavardhan Rathore is competing with Rajasthan Cricket Association president and Union minister CP Joshi in the state capital.
Both have a lot at stake. Joshi has left his Mewar bastion for Jaipur with his eyes on the huge number of Brahmin voters in the constituency. Rathore, on the other hand, is relying on his star status and the Narendra Modi ‘wave’. He also has Raje’s blessings. The CM has reportedly told Singh to just file the nomination and relax as she would take extra interest in his constituency. Perhaps, Raje is using Singh’s shoulder to shoot down Joshi. Howzat?
Cricketer vs Outsider, Tonk-Sawai Madhopur: Mohammed Azharuddin is batting on the tricky wicket of Tonk-Sawai Madhopur against SS Jaunapuria, a real estate magnate from Delhi.
The joke currently doing the rounds in Tonk is this: Every year a camel is brought to this city of Nawabs for sacrificing on Eid. Who would be halaled this year? Will it be Eid-ul-Azha?
Pilot vs Farmer, Ajmer: In 2009, when Sachin Pilot had contested from Ajmer, the popular slogan in the area was: Bye, bye, Auntyji; welcome, Bhaiyyaji. Auntyji-- Pilot’s opponent Kiran Maheshwari-- went on to live up to the prophecy and lost by nearly 80,000 votes.
This time the BJP has fielded its most-popular Jat leader—Sanwarlal-- to take on the high-flying Congress chief. Naturally, they are calling it the battle of Dhartiputra with Pilot.
Pilot has a lot to lose, Sanwarlal nothing. Sanwarlal is already a minister. If he loses, he would return to his exiting job.
Pilot has just been handed over the command of the Congress craft, which appears to be nosediving. If Pilot also crashes, his career would be grounded.
Cong vs Cong, old BJP vs new BJP, Turncoat vs Thakur, Vasu Bai Sa vs Kalu Bai Sa, Barmer: Jaswant Singh was the BJP’s face for decades. Col Sona Ram represented the Congress. Now, Sona Ram is the BJP candidate. Singh is contesting as an independent and the Congress supporters are confused because the party’s official candidate Harish Chaudhary has been advised by the high command to wait for a few days before filing his form. If the Congress decides to covertly support Singh, party loyalties will go for a toss.
Even Raje is taking a keen interest. Singh was once her mentor. His wife Kalu Bai Sa once filed an FIR against Raje’s deification as a goddess. In return, the BJP government hastened a probe into charges that Singh had offered opium to his guests at a family function.
Singh has already called Raje “Gaddar.” Raje’s reply and response is awaited. But the battle of egos is on, politics and principles can go bury their heads in the Thar sand.
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