BJP rules out alliance with smaller parties for Rajasthan bypolls

Rajasthan BJP rules out alliances for upcoming bypolls, while Congress prepares with new responsibilities for party workers.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Rajasthan has ruled out any alliance with smaller parties for the upcoming byelections to the six Assembly seats in the State, while the Opposition Congress has started preparations for the bypolls by giving new responsibilities to active party workers. The Election Commission is yet to announce the dates for the byelections.

Five Assembly seats in the State fell vacant following the election to Lok Sabha of sitting MLAs, all of whom were from the Congress and its allies in the INDIA bloc. The sixth seat, Salumber, became vacant after the death of three-time BJP MLA Amrit Lal Meena on August 8.

Besides Salumber, the five seats where bypolls will be held are Dausa, Jhunjhunu, Deoli-Uniara, Khinwsar and Chorasi. The BJP, which had lost all these seats in the 2023 Assembly election, earlier gave hints that an alliance could be negotiated with Bharat Adivasai Party (BAP) for Chorasi and Salumber.

Rajkumar Roat, 32, a two-time MLA from Chorasi instrumental in the formation of BAP last year, was elected MP from Banswara.

BJP State president Madan Rathore said here on Saturday that the ruling party was capable of contesting the bypolls on its own. Mr. Rathore accused BAP of pursuing a “divisive agenda” which was fragmenting the society on the pretext of protecting the rights of tribal communities. He also said there was no scope for an alliance with Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP), though he had good friendship with its chief Hanuman Beniwal.

The appointment of Rajya Sabha Member and OBC leader Mr. Rathore as the BJP State chief in July was perceived as a step to balance the caste equations ahead of the Assembly byelections. In addition, Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh Radha Mohan Das Agarwal has been appointed the BJP’s in-charge for Rajasthan to infuse the party workers with energy and evolve new strategies.

Ticket seekers have started arriving with their supporters at the BJP State headquarters here. The party is likely to select the candidates, after the dates for the bypolls are announced, on the basis of their caste affiliations, as the seats have signification populations of tribals, Jats and Gujjars.