Chinks are appearing in Jaipur city, which was once considered an impregnable BJP citadel. In the last election, the BJP, riding on the Modi wave, swept all eight seats. As far as the BJP is concerned, it is a high stake election as many bigwigs of the party like Health Kalicharan Saraf, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment and former BJP State President Arun Chaturvedi, former Mayor and former State President Ashok Parnami and Mayor Ashok Lahoti are in the fray. This is the reason why political observers are saying that this the BJP may not repeat the 2013 performance as it is facing a double challenge — Congress and BJP rebel Ghanshyam Tiwari’s Bharat Vahini Party (BVP).

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Except one seat, the remaining seven seats have a direct fight between the BJP and the Congress. The most keenly contested election is being witnessed in Sanganer from where Tiwari, Lahoti, and Pushpendra Bhardwaj (Congress) are locked in what is being called the ‘hot seat’.

According to trends, the BJP looks comfortable in Kishanpol while in seven other seats it’s neck and neck. Tiwari’s departure has certainly affected the BJP’s Brahmin vote bank. The other reason is that this time BJP has fielded just two Brahmin candidates from Jaipur city - one less than last election.

Vaish candidate Lahoti was field from Sanganer which is considered as Brahmin seat whereas Tiwari is a known Brahmin leader.

The other reason for Brahmin anger is denying ticket Minister of State Raj Kumar Rinwa. The BJP’s troubles do not end here as this time, party’s official candidate are facing rebels in Amber, Sanganer, Vidyadhar Nagar, Kotputli, Shahpura, Dadu, Bassi, Phulera and Viratnagar.

Direct Fight

Except one seat, the remaining seven seats have a direct fight between BJP and the Congress. The most keenly contested election is being witnessed in Sanganer from where Tiwari, Lahoti, and Pushpendra Bhardwaj (Congress) are locked in what is being called the ‘hot seat’.