Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje will take on former BJP leader Jaswant Singh’s son Manvendra, who switched to the Congress from the BJP last month, in Jhalrapatan. The state goes to polls on December 7.
“It is party’s decision to field me from Jhalrapatan. I am ready for challenge,” said Manvendra Singh soon after his name was released by the Congress this afternoon in its second list of 32 candidates.
Calling his decision to join the BJP a “big mistake”, Manvendra Singh had exited the party on September 22 during the Swabhiman Rally called by him to salvage the Rajput pride. He had said that Rajputs were unhappy with the BJP as it denied ticket to Jaswant Singh in 2014 general election to contest from Barmer-Jaisalmer Lok Sabha seat.
Chief minister Vasundhara Raje is seen to have played a role in Jaswant Singh being sidelined and Manvendra Singh has had strained relations with her ever since. Jaswant Singh had contested as an Independent candidate and lost, and his supporters in the region say they haven’t forgotten the slight to their leader, who served as the country’s finance, defence and external affairs minister.
Raje had skipped only Manvendra Singh’s constituency Sheo during her Gaurav Yatra in August. Soon after Manvendra Singh had announced his Swabhiman rally followed by his exit.
Raje, who filed her nomination earlier today, has been contesting and winning from Jhalrapatan assembly constituency since 2003. Her name was announced in the first list of BJP candidates .
The BJP won a record 163 seats in the 200-member assembly in the 2013 elections in Rajasthan. Manvendra Singh won from the Sheo constituency in Barmer.
Rajasthan will vote in a single phase on December 7 and votes will be counted on December 11.