BJP, Congress fight it out in Rajasthan by-polls

Rajasthan's ruling Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) face each other in two assembly by-elections in Todabhim and Salumber Saturday.

The by-elections were necessitated by the two legislators -- Todabhim's independent Kirori Lal Meena and Congress' Raghuveer Meena -- being elected to the Lok Sabha.

The Congress finds itself in a tricky situation in Todabhim, a constituency dominated by the Meena community, where it has fielded Shivdayal Meena against the BJP's Ramesh Chand Meena. With four of its former members contesting as independents, it faces the danger of its support being eroded.

“These rebels will cut the traditional votes of the Congress," said political analyst Vijay Sharma.

Besides, the Meena community votes could also be divided.

“The division of Meena community votes in Todabhim cannot be ruled out as at least four of the seven candidates contesting from here are from the community,” Sharma added.

In the absence of Kirori Lal -- who won over 87,000 votes in the 2008 assembly election -- the field is clear for the Congress and the BJP, both of whose candidates lost their deposits last time. Then, Congress' Murari Lal Meena was able to muster only 3,807 votes and the BJP candidate Ramsingh 3,623.

In Salumbar, six candidates are in the fray with the Congress' Basanti pitted against the BJP's Amrat Lal.

Basanti is the wife of the Udaipur MP Raghuveer Meena, who has handed his mantle to her after vacating the seat.

The seat, which is in a tribal dominated area, has traditionally been a Congress stronghold.

Campaigning was low key in both constituencies.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, union minister for panchayat and rural development and state party president C.P. Joshi were the star performers for the Congress, while former chief minister Vasundhara Raje and state BJP president Arun Chaturvedi were the main campaigners for the BJP.

The Rajasthan assembly has 200 seats. The ruling Congress has 101 members while the BJP has 78.

Assembly by-polls will be held Saturday for 11 seats in Uttar Pradesh, 10 in West Bengal, three in Kerala, two each in Rajasthan, Assam and Himachal Pradesh and one seat in Chhattisgarh.

The votes will be counted Nov 10.

Last updated on Nov 6^th, 2009 at 13:33 pm IST--IANS