Political leaders switching sides after deserting their original parties, turncoats being fielded as candidates, new alliances being formed and caste groups shifting their traditional loyalties present a volatile scenario ahead of the Lok Sabha election in Rajasthan. The desert State is set to witness a tough contest in half-a-dozen of the total of 25 constituencies.
In a surprise move, the Opposition Congress has given as many as six seats to the alliances and turncoats. The party seems to have adopted the strategy of utilising the influence of certain leaders in their respective regions to its advantage by strengthening itself or broadening the platform of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance bloc.
Twelve of the seats will go to polls in the first phase of election on April 19, which is barely a week away, while the remaining 13 seats – mostly in central and southern Rajasthan – will have the polling in the second phase on April 26. The State capital, comprising Jaipur City and Jaipur Rural segments, will vote in the first phase.
