New Delhi: The assembly by-elections being conducted on 7 seats in Rajasthan is undoubtedly an acid test for the Bhajan Lal government, but the polls are also pivotal for Congress veteran Sachin Pilot. The outcome of these 7 seats will decide when Sachin Pilot will be able to return to ‘political landscape of the desert’, it is believed.
Sachin Pilot has been active in central politics since the 2023 assembly elections. That too despite his reluctance.
He shifted to Delhi after internal rift
After the party suffered loss in the 2023 assembly elections, the Congress shifted Sachin Pilot to New Delhi to resolve the internal fight in Rajasthan. Pilot was made in-charge of Chhattisgarh in Mallikarjun Kharge’s new team.
Pilot has been deeply involved in Delhi politics since then, but he is apparently focused on the politics of Rajasthan. He is trying to return to the Rajasthan political scene as soon as he can, and wants to make a significant move that could be decisive in the 2028 assembly elections.
By-election on 7 seats, 3 of them are Pilot’s stronghold
Among the 7 seats for which by-elections are being held in Rajasthan, the seats of Dausa, Deoli-Uniyara, and Jhunjhunu are considered Pilot’s bastion. Murari Lal Meena, a close aide of Pilot, had won from Dausa, Harish Meena from Deoli, and Brijendra Ola from Jhunjhunu, but all three became Members of Parliament in 2024.”
Tickets have been given to Pilot’s supporters for these seats. Deoli-Uniyara is the seat next to Pilot’s Tonk constituency. Similarly, Pilot has previously been the MP from Dausa. The Jhunjhunu seat is the stronghold of the Ola family, who are with Pilot. The results of these three seats will determine whether Pilot still has a strong grip on his stronghold or not?
Polls will decide how strong is Congress in Rajasthan
Apart from Dausa, Deoli and Jhunjhunu, by-elections are being held in Ramgarh, Salambur, Chaurasi and Khinvsar. Congress was in power in Ramgarh. BJP had secured Salambur seat. Baap had won in Chaurasi and Hanuman Beniwal had secured victory in Khinvsar.
This time the state Congress had its way in ticket distribution on these seats. In Khinvsar, Congress gave ticket to Ratan Chaudhary who was trying to get a ticket from BJP. In Salambur and Chaurasi too, the state Congress has had its way. In Ramgarh, the son of late Zubair Khan has been made the candidate.
If the performance of the party on these seats is not good in the by-elections, then the state Congress may face embarrassment. In the 2024 elections, the Congress alliance won 11 out of 25 seats in Rajasthan. It is believed that if Congress gets fewer seats than expected in the by-polls, then there could be political pressure on the state Congress leadership.
Dotasara has one year of tenure left
In 2020, during the rebellion, the command of Rajasthan Congress was entrusted to Jat leader Govind Singh Dotasara. With Dotasara as the president, Congress performed reasonably well in the 2023 and 2024 elections. Jats also openly backed the Congress.
Dotasara’s 4-year term has been completed now. According to the Udaipur Declaration, Dotasara can serve as the state president for a maximum of 5 years. Against such a backdrop, it is being said that the search for a new president will begin as soon as his 5-year term is over.
It is also being said that Sachin Pilot can be given the command of Rajasthan at that time. Because, whoever is appointed as president in 2025 will lead the party in the 2028 elections.
