Rajasthan Poll: As Counting Begins, Cong, BJP Reach Out To Independents, Smaller Parties

The ruling Congress and the BJP have set their eyes on the independent candidates, including rebels, and smaller parties as the counting of votes begins on Sunday for the assembly polls.

About 40 rebels from both parties have contested as independent candidates after being denied tickets. They are expected to have given a tough fight. As the exit polls have indicated that it will be a close finish, these leaders are expected to play a key role.

Some of the BJP rebels are Ravindra Singh Bhati (Sheo), Chandrabhan Singh Aakya (Chittorgarh), Yoonus Khan (Deedwana), Kailash Meghwal (Shahpura), Asha Meena (Sawai Madhopur), Ashu Singh Surpura (Jhotwara), Rohitashv Sharma (Bansur) while Virendra Beniwal (Lunkaransar), Gopal Baheti (Pushkar), Ramchandra Saradhana (Virat Nagar) are among other Congress rebels.

Both parties are trying hard to keep the independent and rebel candidates to bring them into their fold in case of a split verdict. It has to be noted that both Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje have met the governor after the exit polls were out.

On the other hand, most pollsters predicted an edge for the BJP, three exit polls in their upper limit forecast a Congress win in the desert state.

"The party leaders are in touch with the independents and rebels," PTI quoted a Congress source as saying while expressing confidence that the party will form the government.

Similarly, according to sources within the BJP, party leaders are reaching out to individuals who contested elections as independents after breaking away from the party.

Apart from approaching these rebels, the parties are also exploring the possibility of forming post-poll alliances with smaller parties, if necessary.

Among the parties participating in the state elections are the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP), Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP), Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP), and CPI (M).

While the BJP has not forged any pre-poll alliances, the Congress has reserved one seat (Bharatpur) for its ally, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD).

In the 2018 polls, the grand old party had bagged 99 out of 199 seats while is ally RLD won one seat. Later, it emerged victorious in one seat (Ramgarh) following the demise of the BSP candidate.

It has to be noted that all six BSP MLAs defected to the Congress in 2019.

Meanwhile, the counting has started across the state. The early trends indicate that the ruling party is leading in 34 seats while the BJP is ahead in 45 seats.