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Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2018: Sachin Pilot trusts new members, Ashok Gehlot banks on old team

In 2013 assembly elections, when Gehlot government was ousted from power, the Congress had repeated maximum ministers and sitting MLAs.

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Sachin Pilot, a first-time candidate for assembly polls lunching with his team in Tonk constituency, on Tuesday.
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Congress is used to betting on old guards and experienced leaders in the ensuing Rajasthan assembly elections. But the party has introduced 68 new faces, who replace sitting legislators and candidates who lost the 2013 polls. The party has reiterated its trust on 137 candidates and senior leaders who contested elections last year. Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sachin Pilot and BJP turncoat and Dausa MP Harish Meena are among the candidates who would be contesting the assembly elections for the first time. 

In 2013 assembly elections, when Gehlot government was ousted from power, the Congress had repeated maximum ministers and sitting MLAs. The party had won 96 seats in 2008 and most sitting MLAs were repeated in the 2013 elections, which the Congress lost. 

The party had denied tickets to Mahipal Maderna and Malkhan Vishnoi who were charged with involvement in the murder of nurse Bhanwari Devi. Similarly, Babulal Nagar, also accused of rape, was denied ticket. 

In 2018 assembly elections, the Congress has once again shown confidence in old guards who have experience of contesting assembly election. 137 candidates out of 195 are those who have contested the elections, twice or thrice. The party has given 5 seats to its alliance partners. Nearly, two dozen minister and parliamentary secretaries in Gehlot government have been repeated this time.

While Gehlot has managed to repeat his old team of ministers and loyalists, sources say it was Pilot who was instrumental in getting most of the new faces in the poll fray. “Some of the new faces may be new to the legislative assembly but are recognised leaders on ground. These include, Ashok Chandak (Ganganagar), Virendra Choudhary (Dataramgarh), Manish Yadav (Shahpura), Mahendra Ralawata (Ajmer), Rakesh Pareek (Masuda), Sawai Singh Godara (Khimsar), Sitaram Agarwal (Vidhyadhar Nagar), Shabnam Godara (Sangaria) and Ramniwas Gawadia (Parbatsarar),” a party official said. Pilot has repeated his loyalists Danish Abrar (Sawai Madhopur) and Ameenuddin Kagzi (Kishanpol) who lost the 2013 elections badly. 

The party, however, has shied away from giving away tickets to senior leaders. Vikram Singh Shekhawat (Vidhyadhar Nagar), former PCC chief Chandrabhan (Malpura) and former minister Dr Jakiya (Tonk), have been failed to get tickets. 

The party has fielded 15 Muslims candidates, one less compared to the 16 it gave a chance in 2013. In the previous election all 16 candidates had lost the polls. 

Sources said Pilot who assumed the charge of PCC after the disastrous performance of the party in 2013 polls is “building his team”. Keeping this in mind, Pilot managed to introduce some fresh blood in the state polls, while Gehlot got his old team back in the ring. 

68 NEW FACES

While Gehlot has managed to repeat his old team of ministers and loyalists, sources say it was Pilot who was instrumental in getting most of the new faces in the poll fray. As many 68 new faces have been introduced by Congress. 

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