Rajasthan Elections: These 20 Touch And Go Seats Are Crucial For Both BJP And Congress

Rajasthan assembly elections: At least 20 seats could be a touch and go affair for both the BJP and the Congress as the victory margin in these constituencies was less than 3 per cent in the previous polls.

The 199 seats of the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly go to polls on December 7 and results will be declared on December 11. Polling for one seat has to be postponed due to death of a BSP candidate.

JAIPUR: As the campaigning for assembly elections entered its last phase in Rajasthan, the Congress and the BJP are leaving no stone unturned in their bid to woo the voters. The ruling BJP is locked in a tough electoral battle in the 200-member assembly and deployed all its key leaders in the state, which has a tradition of alternating between Congress and BJP every five years. For the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading the charge; and for the Congress, its chief Rahul Gandhi is canvassing extensively in the state. On the basis of 2013 assembly elections, at least 20 seats (See Graphics Below) could be a touch and go affair for both the parties as the victory margin in these constituencies was less than 3 per cent in the previous polls. The 199 seats of the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly go to polls on December 7 and results will be declared on December 11. Polling for one seat has to be postponed due to death of a BSP candidate. Thirty-three of the total 200 constituencies are witnessing a fight between the same candidates of the BJP and the Congress who had contested the 2013 state polls. Both the parties have changed their candidates on 43 seats this time. On the remaining 124 seats, the two major parties have decided to field new candidates. Of the 33 seats, 29 are sitting BJP MLAs and four are Congress MLAs that included former chief minister Ashok Gehlot. Both the BJP and the Congress have changed their candidates in 43 constituencies. Thirty-four out of these 43 seats were won by the BJP in 2013 but the party dropped them this time and gave tickets to others which made some of such sitting MLAs, including ministers Rajkumar Rinwa (Ratangarh), Hem Singh Bhandana (Thanagaji) rebel. As many as 2,294 candidates, including 189 women candidates, are contesting on 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan assembly elections.