BJP sprang a surprise by fielding journalist and owner of Jaipur based newspaper Mahanagar Times – Gopal Sharma from Civil Lines against cabinet minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas. The party so far has announced names of 197 candidates out of 200.
Sharma, a strong RSS alumnus, was demanding ticket from Sanganer. But the party preferred him over former state president Arun Chaturvedi, who had lost election on this seat last time.
Another former state president Ashok Parnami has also been denied ticket. This is a big jolt to Vasundhara Raje as he was considered one of the closest leaders in Raje coterie. A businessman Ravi Nayyar has been given ticket from Adarsh Nagar.
The party has given ticket to Chandramohan Batwara in place of Mohan Lal Gupta who had lost the last election from Kishanpole. There were rumours that Jyoti Khandelwal, who had joined BJP from Congress few days back, may be given ticket from Kishanpole.
The other surprise was giving ticket to Upen Yadav, president of unemployed youth, who had been staging protests and agitations against state government for the interest of youth. Yadav will contest from Shahpura. The party is looking at attracting support of youth by fielding Yadav.
The BJP has also changed ticket on two seats. From Kolayat – the party had given ticket to Poonam Kanwar, daughter in law of Devi Singh Bhati. But now the ticket has been ‘transferred' to her son Anshuman Bhati. Similarly, the BJP has changed ticket from Atru where it had made Sarika Chaudhary its candidate. Now the ticket has been given to Radheshyam Bairwa.
The party has also given favour to Rajkumar Rinwa fielding him from Sardarshahar. Raje had denied him the ticket last time and he had contested election as independent from Ratangarh. This time party has given ticket to the sitting MLA Abhinesh Mehrishi from Ratangarh. So it has moved Rinwa to Saradarshahar.
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