LS elections: Two ministers, a cricketer among 81 candidates in 2nd phase of polling

Caste equations vs NaMo factor are most likely to decide the poll future of 81 contestants including two Union Ministers and former cricketer in second and last phase of Lok Sabha polling in five constituencies in Rajasthan on Thursday

Polling on Dausa, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur and Tonk-Sawaimadhopur LS seats would begin at 7 am and end at 6 pm tomorrow, a CEO spokesman said today.

Candidates of all political parties including Congress, BJP and BSP have campaigned on caste lines whether it was Dausa, Bharatpur, or Sawaimadhopur seats.

This time, former cricketer Mohd Azharuddin is facing a triangular contest against BJP's Sukhbir Singh Jaunpuria, and NPP's Jagmohan Meena (brother of KL Meena).

On Dausa LS seat, there are seven candidates of Meena caste, three each of Dhanka (SC) and Gurjars (OBC), and one Gunawat caste.

More interestingly three prominent candidates: Congress' Namo Narayan Meena (MoS for finance), BJP's H C Meena (former DG and brother of NNM) and sitting MLA and NPP convenor Dr K L Meena, who quit this very seat as MP, are stuck in real caste war.

Sitting Independent and SC caste's MLA Anju Dhanka, Gurjar caste's Shivpal, Anjali Bhadana and Dr Naseem were also expecting their caste votes in a multi-cornered contest in Dausa.

Hence Meena, Gurjar, and sawarn electors would have important role in deciding the future of a winning candidate.

Similarly, the Meena caste equation had played a vital role on Tonk-Sawaimadhopur LS seat when Namonarayan Meena (MoS finance) had defeated Dr KLM (Independent) on this seat by a narrow margin and because of caste factor.

BJP considered T-S seat to be dominated by Gurjars and campaigned for its outsider nominee Sukhbeer Singh Jaunpuria, while Congress banking on minority in favour of cricketer, and Meena and Gurjar's candidate were hoping their caste equations with voters tomorrow.

Alwar LS seat is dominated by Mev and Yadav, another MoS for sports, and ex-royal Jitendra Singh hoping to retain his seat on votes of Mev, SC, and Meena voters against BJP's Mahant Chandnath who is expecting support from Brahmin, jat and other castes.

However, people of the Mev (minority/muslim) community were reportedly annoyed with the Congress after Gopalgarh communal riots that claimed ten lives in 2011 in the state.

Eleven candidates' caste equation on this seat is likely to make a decision after voting is done.