Rajasthan Election 2023: Voting Timings, Candidate Information, and SWOT Analysis of BJP and Congress

Rajasthan is poised for elections on Saturday, November 25, marking the conclusion of the campaign for the 2023 Assembly Election on Thursday. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress engaged in heated exchanges over various issues, spanning from crime and women’s safety to corruption and paper leak cases.

As approximately 5.25 crore voters in Rajasthan prepare to cast their ballots, let’s delve into the voting schedule, prominent candidates, key issues, and the strengths and weaknesses of both the BJP and the Congress in the Rajasthan Election 2023:

Voting in Rajasthan Assembly Constituencies: Out of the total 200 assembly seats, 199 will be contested on November 25. The election in the Karanpur assembly constituency was adjourned after the demise of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar due to sepsis. Among these seats, 25 are reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC), 34 for Scheduled Tribe (ST), and 141 for the General category.

Voting Date, Time, and Results: Voting for the Rajasthan Election 2023 will commence at 7 am and conclude at 6 pm on Saturday, November 25. The election results are scheduled to be declared on December 3, 2023. The term of the Rajasthan assembly concludes on January 14, 2024.

Major Parties in the Fray: The primary contenders in the Rajasthan Election 2023 are the BJP and the Congress, both having announced candidates for all 200 seats. Additionally, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have fielded candidates.

How to Know Your Candidate: The Election Commission facilitates voter information through the #KYC App of ECI and the https://affidavit.eci.gov.in portal. Candidates’ affidavits, including details on “Criminal Antecedents,” if any, are available for public scrutiny. By entering the state and assembly constituency, voters can access candidate information and click on “view more” for additional details.

SWOT Analysis of BJP: Strengths:

1. Strong organizational setup down to the booth level.
2. Potential leverage of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity.
3. Appeal to Hindutva sentiments for voter support.
4. Potential support from right-wing voters after the Kanhaiya Lal case in Udaipur.

Weaknesses:

1. Lack of a prominent state leader.
2. Internal differences within the BJP may impact unity.
3. Low visibility on the ground could cost votes.
4. Inability to counter the narrative on the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project.

Opportunities:

1. Anti-incumbency sentiment in the BJP’s favor.
2. Exploiting infighting within the Congress.
3. Capitalizing on law and order concerns, especially crimes against women.
4. Potential benefit from a new CM face.

Threats:

1. Restoration of the Old Pension Scheme and welfare initiatives by the Gehlot government.
2. Hanuman Beniwal’s influence on Jat votes.
3. Strong presence of Congress leaders Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot.

SWOT Analysis of Congress: Strengths:

1. Ashok Gehlot’s mass connect and systematic outreach.
2. Charismatic appeal of Sachin Pilot, particularly among the youth and the Gujjar community.
3. Array of welfare schemes launched by the Gehlot-led government.

Weaknesses:

1. Publicized infighting between Gehlot and Pilot.
2. Organizational structure issues within the Congress.
3. Allegations of corruption and paper leaks impacting the Congress image.

Opportunities:

1. Restoration of the Old Pension Scheme favoring Congress.
2. Divisions within the BJP’s state unit.
3. Gains in districts if the Congress convinces voters of BJP’s neglect of the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project.

Threats:

1. Anti-incumbency challenge for the Congress.
2. BJP raising communal violence cases and accusations of ‘appeasement.’
3. AIMIM and Bhartiya Adivasi affecting Muslim and tribal votes.