In a departure from the politics that chief minister Ashok Gehlot has been known to practice, names of several sitting legislators and even his close aides are missing from the second list.
Congress party declared its second list of candidates for 42 Assembly seats, on Wednesday night. After this list the Congress has so far declared a total of 105 names which is still way behind the BJP which declared 176 candidates in one go on Monday.
In the Congress second list as many as 15 sitting MLAs have been repeated from the same constituencies while nine others who lost the previous Assembly election on Congress tickets have also been repeated. On the contrary, seven sitting MLAs have been changed and eight others who lost previous election on Congress ticket have also been changed. In all 15 new faces have been introduced this time. Two BSP candidates who later joined Congress—Giriraj Singh Malinga and Ramkesh Meena—have also been given ticket from Gangapur and Bari seats respectively. Several leaders made surprise entry while many others considered close to chief minister Gehlot has been shown the door.
Danish Abrar son of former Congress leader Abrar Ahmed has been fielded from Swai Madhopur seat while present legislator Alauddin Azad has been shown the door. Party insiders are of the view that Danish is a young candidate and has been given ticket to counter BJP candidate Diya Kumari from this seat.
Ganga Devi has also been shown the door and has been replaced by Prahald Raghu. Sources informed that Prahald is the brother-in-law of Ganga Devi and party tickets has gone to the family.
Surprisingly legislator Udai Lal Anjana has also been retained from Nimbahera, despite facing allegation of sexual harassment after a local woman lodged an FIR against him. Anjana has a strong influence in his area, which worked in his favour. PCC chief Chandrbhan who contested from Malpura seat last time has also not been named in this list. Party has fielded a new candidate Ramvilas Chaudhary from Malpura seat. Several others close to chief minister like Parasram Mordia, Rajiv Arora, Neeraj Dangi, have also been replaced by other candidates from their respective seats.
From Malviya Nagar constituency party has fielded its spokesperson Archana Sharma. Highly places sources informed that party may field new and young faces in most of the constituencies in Jaipur where BJP candidates are in a strong position. Congress legislator Kamla Bairwa has also been replaced by Prashant Bairwa from Niwai. Prashant has been an active party worker and son of late Dwarka Prasad Bairwa who has been Congress MP from Niwai. The new faces include Danish Abrar from Sawai Madhopur, Nopa Ram from Dhod, Archana Sharma from Malviya Nagar, Prakash Nagar from Chhabra, Lakhma Ram Kohi from Reodar, Suwa Ram Patel from Ahore, Ratan Lal Janwa from Bali, Prashant Bairwa from Niwai, Ram Vilas Chaudhary from Malpura and Jagdish Chand Jahadir from Sadulshahar.
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