The Congress is looking to wrest BJP’s loyal voters in Barmer, Jaisalmer and Jalore districts by offering Manvendra select seats to field Rajput candidates, sources said
The Congress is planning to capitalise on the Manvendra factor to wean away the Rajputs from BJP, the party they have been voting for traditionally in assembly and general elections.
The Congress is looking to wrest BJP’s loyal voters in Barmer, Jaisalmer and Jalore districts by offering Manvendra select seats to field Rajput candidates, sources said. Manvendra Singh, sources said, has staked claim on at least five seats in Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Jalore districts.
Pachpadra assembly constituency in Barmer, where Manvendra had held his Swabhimaan Rally and declared his separation from BJP, is one of the seats he has sought. “Since he is planning on contesting the general elections, he is planning to field his wife Chitra Singh on a Congress ticket,” a Congress district official said.
Chitra Singh had spearheaded his campaign against chief minister Vasundhara Raje and had launched a door-to-door campaign in Barmer and Jaisalmer against the ruling BJP government for sidelining the interests of Rajput community. Pachpadra also happens to be the place where Rajasthan’s oil refinery is coming up in collaboration with the petro major HPCL.
If the BJP fields sitting MP Colonel Sonaram in a Barmer assembly constituency, the Congress is willing to foot a Rajput candidate of Manvendra’s choice to counter him. In Jaisalmer, for instance, the Congress can give ticket to the royal family member Rajrajeshwari. Her candidature is being backed by Manvendra. It is reported that Manvendra has sought tickets in Shergarh and Ahore seats for Rajput representation. Neither he, nor his wife plan on contesting Sheo seat which they represent now.
Cong Campaigner
“His joining Congress will strengthen the party not only in Barmer but in other areas as well. He would be playing active role in the upcoming assembly election and we are happy that he is becoming a member of the Congress,” said Pilot hinting that the party has chalked out a plan to field Manvendra as one of the important campaigners in areas dominated by Rajputs in Rajasthan.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Manvendra Singh")
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}