In Rajasthan caste is the most deciding factor when it comes to choosing a candidate. Seen as one of the most keenly contested in the recent history, 2014 is a role reversal for the two main parties – BJP and Congress - in terms of both seats and vote share predictions.
Jaswant Singh vs Colonel Sonaram Choudhary in Bikaner
The BJP shunned Jaswant, a Rajput and former minister of finance, defence and external affairs, in favour of Sonaram Choudhary, a Jat, former army officer, three-time Barmer MP and civil contractor of significant means, who, four days prior to his nomination as the party's candidate, quit the Congress and joined the BJP.
Vasundhara who recently handed the BJP a clean sweep of Rajasthan in state elections reportedly pitched Col Choudhury against party stalwart Jaswant Singh.
Jaswant Singh's supporters point out that Colonel Sonaram Choudhary joined the BJP after quitting the Congress just days ago. But the retired Army officer is a Jat, the community which is in the majority in Barmer. Singh, his supporters say, has the support of Rajputs and Muslims, who make up nearly 14 percent of the population.
Sachin Pilot vs Sanwar Lal Jat in Ajmer
Prominent Jat leader Sanwar Lal Jat of the BJP is a minister in the state cabinet of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. No other prominent leader is in the fray in the election to the Lok Sabha from the constituency.
Ajmer has traditionally been a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bastion but Pilot broke this stranglehold in the last general elections and won by over 76,000 votes.
The dominant Rawat and Jat voters helped the BJP win in Ajmer in 2013.
Azharuddin vs Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria in Tonk
This seat witnessed clash of two “outsiders”. Indian team skipper and native of Hyderabad, Azharuddin, is the Congress pick for the seat while the BJP has placed its bets on popular businessman from NCR Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria, who has his roots in Haryana. Though the Meena community is predominant here, Gujjar, Muslim, Brahmin, Vaishya, Rajput and Jat are also capable of swinging the poll results.
Jaunapuria is expected to get a good chunk of Brahmin, Rajput and Vaishya votes, which comprise around 4 lakh, say political analysts.
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