Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday filed his nomination from the Sardarpura constituency for the upcoming polls for the 200-member Rajasthan Legislative Assembly. Gehlot filed his candidature on the last day of filing nominations for the November 25 polls. Following his nomination, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will address a rally in Jodhpur which will be attended by state party in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and chairman Govind Singh Dotasra.
The Sardarpura seat has been a Congress stronghold and Gehlot's bastion since 1999. In 2013, Gehlot won this seat by a margin of 18,478 votes with 54.96 polls voted in his favour. In 2018, his vote share went up to 63.31 per cent succeeding in securing the seat by defeating Bharatiya Janata Party's Shambhu Singh.
For the upcoming polls, BJP has fielded Mahendra Singh Rathore for a direct fight with Gehlot on Sardarpura seat.
The ruling Congress dispensation is eyeing a second term in Rajasthan with several poll promises including Old Pension Scheme, Rs 10,000 per annum for women head of the family, laptop/tablet for first year students in government colleges, and gas cylinders at Rs 500 for 1 crore households in the state.
Addressing an election rally on Sunday, Gehlot said his government's successful schemes have garnered national attention and political parties in many states are mentioning similar schemes in their election manifestos.
ALSO READ: Rajasthan Polls: Congress Releases 6th List Of 23 Candidates, Leaves Bharatpur Seat For RLD
"Rajasthan's successful schemes and their benefits have garnered national attention, prompting political parties in many states to mention similar schemes in their election manifestos," Gehlot said.
Some of the examples he cited included affordable gas cylinders, medical insurance, free electricity, subsidised bus fares for women and other public utility schemes.
Gehlot's former Deputy, Sachin Pilot filed his nomination last week on Tuesday form Tonk Assembly constituency.