Dungarpur by-election stakes high for both BJP and Opp Cong

Jaipur, Nov 24 (UNI) Even as the campaign for by-election to the Dungarpur Assembly seat is gathering momentum, the opposition Congress is leaving no stone unturned with big guns joining the campaign fray to retain party's tribal bastion while the ruling BJP seems to have reposed faith in cadres concentrating on door-to-door campaign.

The election to the Dungarpur (ST) seat on December 4 was necessitated following the demise of Congress veteran and tribal leader Nathuram Ahari. Mr Ahari represented the constituency for the sixth consecutive times since 1980.

Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Rajasthan Pradesh Congress President B D Kalla are among the Congress leaders who campaigned for the party nominee Punjilal Parmer who is the vice president of the district Congress committee and an ex-pradhan.

Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria is anchoring the campaign for the ruling party candidate Surmal Parmar who is the district Vice president of the party's tribal wing. He has held the post of surpanch earlier.

BJP sources confided the campaign of its candidate could not pick up momentum as the party leaders have been busy in mobilising cadres for the rally held in Delhi agaianst granting of clemency for Afsal Guru who was given a death sentence in the Parliament Attack case. They said party leaders would soon meet here to finalise the strategy to be adopted for the by-election.

For the BJP and the Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje by-election results are very significant. A win will give the Chief Minister the much needed respite from from her detractors in the party and the Congress who was facing a flak for the allotment of land for the Deen Dayal Memorial Trust and the alleged catwalk in the fashion shows. A win also could be construed as the reward for the 'good governance' of the Vasundhara Raje government coming just on the completion of three years in office.

For the Congress the stakes are very high. Dungarpur was one of the few constituencies with which the Congress party was able to withstand the safforn surge during the last Assembly elections.

Though the Congress party has the disadvantage of the oppostion party a loss at the hustings would demoralise party workers.

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