Rajasthan Assembly Elections: Voters in Rajasthan will exercise their franchise on November 25 and the fate of hundreds of candidates will be locked till December 3 when the Election Commission of India (ECI) will count the votes polled. Will Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot fare through the test? Or Will the BJP continue to remain in opposition? If one has to go by the pattern, it is the BJP's turn as no government has come again in Rajasthan since 1993. Congress has a challenge to break the jinx that has been there in the state for the last 30 years, while the BJP is hoping to cash in again on the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the continuous pattern of anti-incumbency in Rajasthan.
As the election approaches, it is imperative to understand how the government has performed or taken charge during its governance in the last five years. Despite an intense rebellion by Sachin Pilot-led faction within the party, Gehlot managed to complete his third term as CM. Here's a report card of Ashok Gehlot and his government in Rajasthan.
Rajasthan Elections: CM Ashok Gehlot Report Card
The Infighing: Pilot's Rebellion
One things that has been similar within the Congress across many states is the infighting. However, the developments in Rajasthan seemed very challenging reminding the party of what happened in Madhya Pradesh when loyalist Jytoiraditya Scindian turned the coat.
Regarded as leader of youth, Congress leader Sachin Pilot staged protests with his supporters against Gehlot government over corruption and exam paper leaks. He alleged that incumbent government has not been able to handle the issues of corruption and women safety to the extent it should have.
Reports of Pilot floating new party, or being the CM face of Congress also came further intesnifying the wihting trouble. Somehow, the top brass managed to resolve the issue, but opposition had had enough time to pick the damage the fight had done till then.
Women Safety And Gudha's 'Red Diary'
A partially-charred body of a woman was found in capital city Jaipur that led to huge outcry as BJP came down heavily on the Congress government in the state. What followed was another rebel. Congress MLA Rajendra Gudha openly spoke against his own government over the issue of women safety in the state assemblya an d was later disqualified.
He made serious allegations against Gehlot and his supporters, said that he was dragged and beaten. Gudha said that he has a red diary which a record of all the corrupt transactions and illegal works done by Gehlot. Gudha was removed from cabinet, and then from the party. He later joined Shiv Sena. But the 'red diary' row he started, BJP didn't let it die at all.
Schemes
The primary ground on which CM Gehlot will be fighting the polls are various schemes that he launched for the people of Rajasthan including social security schemes among others.
Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana : Rajasthan government began providing health insurance under the Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana. Initially, under this scheme, cashless/free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh was provided to each family every year. After that, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot increased it to Rs 10 lakh in the financial year 2022-23, and further increased this to Rs 25 lakh for 2023-24.
Apart from this, now every Chiranjeevi family is also being given accident insurance of Rs 5 lakh. Under this scheme, beneficiaries can also get treatment for serious diseases like black fungus, cancer, paralysis, heart surgery, neuro surgery, organ transplant, and Covid-19 among others.
Social Security Pension Scheme: The Rajasthan government is also providing a minimum guaranteed income of Rs 1000 per month in the form of a guaranteed wage or social security pension, and an entitlement-based social security to support the individuals and/or household of the state.
Elderly people, differently-abled people, widows and single women will get guaranteed minimum pension of Rs 1,000 per month in the state. Along with this, a provision has been made for 15 per cent automatic increase, which will be at the rate of 5 percent in July and 10 percent in the month of January, as per the government, reported The Statesman.
Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme: The Rajasthan Government also increased the number of work days under Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme from 100 days to 125 days.
Those getting jobs under this scheme are paid under three categories - Rs 259 per day for unskilled labourers, Rs 283 per day for skilled ones and Rs 271 per day for supervisors.
LPG Gas Cylinders For Rs 500: Another lucrative policy decision of the Gehlot government is the availability of LPG gas cylinder for Rs 500. The decision was well-received by the women of the state. Notably, this is the biggest cooking gas subsidy being given in the country.
Free Electricity For Consumers, Farmers: Another big scheme is the 100 units of free electricity to every family. Also, the government announced during 2023-24 budget that free electricity will be provided to farmers for up to 2,000 units per month for agricutlural purposes.
Besides this, CM Gehlot also announced the enactment of the Rajasthan Farmers Debt Relief Act in order to protect the land of small and marginal farmers from being auctioned off.
Anapurna Food Packet Scheme: Under this scheme, the state government aimed to distribute food packets to more than 10.4 million families for free every month. It was part the Rs 19,000 crore ‘Inflation Relief Package’.
Rajasthan Palanhar Yojana: This schemes helps the caretaker of poor orphan children to be able to nurther the kids. When an orphan child gets enrolled in school from the age of 6 up to the age of 18, the caretaker (Palanhar) will receive Rs. 1,000 per month.
Kamdhenu Bima Yojna: For those depending on animals like cow and buffaloes, CM Gehlot announed a insurance coverage up to Rs. 40,000/- per animal to a beneficiary registered in Mukhyamantri Mahngai Rahat Camp 2023 for Kamdhenu Bima Yojna. Under the Scheme maximum two milch animals (Two Cow or Two Buffalo or One Cow and One Buffalo) would be insured. The scheme is free for rearers with an annual income up to Rs 8 lakh a year, while those earning more have to pay Rs 200 per animal per annum.
Mukhyamantri Digital Seva Yojna: This scheme is aimed at proving smartphones to around 1.35 crore women in Rajasthan. The total cost of the project is Rs 12,000 crore.
Kota Deaths
The increasing number of suicide cases in Rajasthan's Kota has emerged as a crucial problem for the state administration. CM Gehlot had recently appealed to parents to avoida putting stress on their children and also held a meeting with coaching institues to take care of the same.
Earlier, he has hailed his government claiming that students here do not require to go out due to availabilty of premier instituitons. He also said that converstion of over 150 government schools into Mahatma Gandhi English medium schools has benefitted the students and education structrue of the state.
Paper Leaks
A big challenege that Gehlot-led Congress government has faced massively in five years of governance is the exam paper leaks. This has caused pain to youth delaying various exams putting in danger future of lakhs of those struggling for a job.
A media report state that since 2011, a total of 26 paper leak cases have come forth in Rajasthan. Out of these, 14 occurred during the Gehlot government's tenure.
The papers of Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers (REET) were leaked in 2021 leading to mass protests by the eligible candidates. Subsequently, in March last year, the Rajasthan government passed a stringent law -- the Rajasthan Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Bill, 2022.
However, the REET examination was leaked on February 25, 2023, just like 2021. Later, in response, the Gehlot government stated that the police and the Special Operations Group (SOG) have arrested and charged 90 per cent of the people involved in the REET examination leak cases.
A section of youth is also dissatsified with this which may affect Gehlot's prospects in upcoming elections.