New Delhi: Royalty seems to be coming out on top in the closely watched contest between Maharana Pratap’s descendant and a veteran Congress leader in Nathdwara in southern Rajasthan’s Rajsamand district.
BJP candidate Vishwaraj Singh, whose pitch to voters was his lineage, is leading by 3,713 votes against C.P. Joshi of the Congress.
A member of the erstwhile Mewar royal family, Vishwaraj Singh Mewar had said ahead of his political debut that his family’s connect with locals and the BJP’s popularity would pave the way for his victory.
Rajputs reportedly make up about 30 percent and Brahmins about 15 percent of the electorate in Nathdwara.
By fielding Vishwaraj Singh, the BJP was hoping to consolidate Rajput votes. The Congress, on the other hand, was looking to rally Brahmins behind Joshi.
During his campaign, Joshi also highlighted the developmental work done in the constituency he has represented five times.
Trends show that caste equations seem to have worked in favour of Singh.
Nathdwara also has a significant OBC and tribal population which together form about 40 percent of the electorate.
Besides Mewar and Joshi, the three other candidates in the fray in Nathdwara are Babulal Salvi of the BSP and two Independents.
CP Joshi’s political legacy
President of the Rajasthan Congress, Joshi had led the party to victory in the 2008 assembly polls but lost his own seat by one vote. At the time, he was considered a frontrunner for the chief minister’s chair.
Joshi’s loss made way for Ashok Gehlot to take over as chief minister for a second time.
In 2009, Joshi was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Bhilwara and also had a brief ministerial stint in the UPA-II administration.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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