Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: In era of simultaneous polls, politics was without drama

JAISALMER: The move to hold assembly and Lok Sabha elections simultaneously may have remained inconclusive as it required constitutional amendments and also political consensus, but 66 years ago, when the first elections were held after Independence in 1952, it was for both the Centre and states.

Resources were scanty, officials on poll duty had to carry ration for five-seven days and the only available mode for reaching the polling booths was riding a camel with separate ballot boxes. People who participated in the simultaneous polls held in 1952 and 1957 said that the polling would go on for 10 days, with election officials covering of three-four booths during that period.

Recalling the days, Maharaja Hukum Singh of Jaisalmer said contesting election was very tough at that time. “Jaisalmer assembly was biggest assembly constituency, with its geographical area being equal to that of Kerala. There was no pucca road except between Jaisalmer and Pokaran and remaining roads were kuccha and sandy. For campaigning, we had purchased five jeeps and canvassing used to go for one month when we would spend nights in villages for meeting and resting.”

Singh could not contest 1952 assembly elections as he fell short of 25-year age criteria by 14 days. But in 1957, he got a chance to contest as an independent, defeating a Congress candidate with 14,553 votes. At that time, he said, the election expenditure he made was around Rs 25,000. For voters, exercising the right also did not come easy. One pooling booth would have voters from several villages and the distance was a big handicap. Singh said the voters used to walk or go on camels and as a candidate, he used to give fares to the voters for coming and voting. The issues and the atmosphere were also in stark contrast with the contemporary scenario. Religion was never an issue and politics did not attract celebrities. When Singh contested, two election meetings were held, one at Pokhran and the other at Jaisalmer, which were addressed by then chief minister Jainarayan Vyas.

Singh contested 1962 elections on a Congress ticket and after winning he had played important role in getting the status of a district for Jaisalmer. Later, his son Jitendra singh and nephew Chandraveer Singh too became MLAs.