The Dausa Lok Sabha seat in Rajasthan has posed a serious challenge of credibility to the BJP following a political slugfest, which has held up finalisation of the candidate's name despite the process for filing nominations in the election's fifth phase having begun on Wednesday. The last date of filing papers is April 18.
The constituency reserved for Scheduled Tribes has several contenders who are backed by different factions in the party. BJP leaders Kirori Lal Meena and Om Prakash Hudla are reportedly locked in a fight over the seat, with Mr. Meena claiming ticket for his wife Golma Devi, who is a former Congress and National People's Party leader and legislator.
Mr. Hudla, who was elected an MLA from Mahuwa on the BJP ticket in 2013 after defeating Ms. Golma Devi, is seeking the party’s candidature from Dausa for himself with the active support of former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. He had fought the 2018 Assembly election as an Independent from Mahuwa and defeated Mr. Meena’s nephew Rajendra Meena.
Veteran BJP leader and Union Minister of State in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government Jaskaur Meena, who was elected an MP from Sawai Madhopur in 1999, claimed earlier this week that the party was making a move to give ticket to her from Dausa. Though the BJP promptly refuted her claim, there is a likelihood of her selection as a “compromise candidate”.
However, the BJP will find it difficult to ignore Mr. Meena, who wields a considerable influence on the Meena voters.
‘Decision soon’
BJP in-charge of Rajasthan Avinash Rai Khanna said on Friday that a cross-section of party workers were being consulted and the party’s parliamentary board would shortly take a decision to field the “best candidate”.