Jaipur : Along with the assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, there is also discussion about the by-elections in Rajasthan. By-elections are being held on 7 assembly seats here, but the seats of Deoli-Uniara and Dausa remain hot. The reputation of two veteran leaders of the country is at stake on both the seats. The first name among these is that of Kirori Lal Meena of BJP and the second name of Sachin Pilot of Congress. Kirori Lal Meena is a minister of the Rajasthan government and is counted among the veteran leaders of the state. Similarly, former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot is currently the National General Secretary of Congress. However, it is being said that which way the politics of both will take a U-turn will be decided by the by-elections of Deoli and Dausa seats.
What is the equation of Deoli seat?
Deoli Uniyara of Tonk district is Pal-Meena dominated. The population of Pal community here is about 12.8 percent. Whereas 12.7 percent people of Meena caste live in this assembly. The population of Gurjar in this seat is about 6 percent. There are around 7 percent Muslims here. Apart from this, people of Bairava, Saini and Lal castes live here in the role of kingmakers. Congress has been winning this seat since 2018. Harish Meena of Congress has now become MP from Tonk seat. Now BJP has fielded former MLA and Gurjar community leader Rajendra Gurjar on this seat of Harish Meena. Congress has given ticket to Kastur Chand Meena of Meena community. Independent Naresh Meena is also contesting from here.
Understand the mathematics of Dausa seat also
Meena dominated Dausa seat has been held by Congress since 2018. 24 percent of the population here belongs to the Meena community. Gurjars are around 6 percent here. Similarly, in Bairava 10 percent and 12 percent population belongs to Brahmin community. In Dausa assembly seat, Muslims are 4 percent and Saini are 5 percent, which plays a big role in victory or defeat. Congress has made Deen Dayal Bairwa its candidate from here. BJP has given ticket to Jagmohan Meena, brother of Kirori Lal Meena. In the 2023 elections, BJP had given the symbol to Shankar Lal Sharma from here, who was defeated by Murari Lal Meena of Congress.
How is Pilot-Meena’s reputation at stake?
Eastern Rajasthan is the political ground of Sachin Pilot and Kirori Lal Meena. Both Pilot and Kirori Lal Meena have been MPs from Dausa seat. Sachin Pilot was MP from Dausa from 2004 to 2009. In 2008, this seat was reserved for tribals.
Kirori contested elections from here and won. However, the pilot did not leave the Dausa field. Currently, Murari Lal Meena, close to Pilot, is the MP from Dausa. Here, Kirori is also dominant in some seats of Dausa.
Devli-Uniara is also a Meena dominated area and for Kirori to perform here is a question of credibility. Deoli is the district under which Uniyara is located. Sachin Pilot is also an MLA from Tonk of the same district.
Pilot supporters have been given tickets on both Dausa and Deoli seats, while Kirori has fielded his brother in Dausa. It is being said that if Kirori does not win Dausa then he can leave the post of minister.
Kirori Lal Meena is not going to the ministry since the Lok Sabha elections.
Will Pilot-Kirori’s politics take a U-turn?
In the 2023 assembly elections, BJP had performed well in Dausa and Tonk-Sawai Madhopur on the strength of Kirori Lal Meena. BJP had won 5 out of 8 assembly seats of Dausa Lok Sabha. Congress had won on 3.
Similarly, BJP had won 4 out of 8 seats in Tonk-Sawaimadhopur and Congress had won 4 seats. Kirori Lal Meena himself had reached the assembly by winning the Sawai Madhopur seat.
However, Pilot took revenge in the Lok Sabha elections. BJP lost both the seats in the 2024 elections. That too, when Kirori Lal Meena had openly announced that he would leave the post of minister after the defeat.
Now it is being said that if BJP is not able to perform in this by-election, then there could be a game with Kirori. If Congress loses, there will be a big dent in Pilot’s Gurjar, Meena and Dalit equation.
