"Congress will form govt again," says Sachin Pilot after casting his vote in Jaipur
Nov 25, 2023
Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], November 25 : Sachin Pilot on Saturday said that the Congress will form the government again with a comfortable majority in Rajasthan, where polling for the 199-member assembly is underway.
Speaking to ANI after casting his vote in Jaipur, the former Deputy Chief Minister of the State said, "I hope people will use their right to vote today. I hope the public will make the right decision by looking at our vision for the state for the next 5 years".
"I think Congress will form the government again with a comfortable majority. People want to change the tradition (to change government alternatively). The public sentiment is with the Congress," the Congress leader added.
Replying to a query whether "Bajrang Bali will help Congress in the elections in the State, the Congress leader said: "Who is a bigger warrior than Bajrang Bali? Bajrang Bali will help the people and all of us..."
The ruling Congress is eyeing another term while the BJP is seeking to replace the Ashok Gehlot government, with the party banking on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Prominent candidates in the fray include Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, former CM Vasundhara Raje, former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot, Congress national spokesperson Gourav Vallabh, Union Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore, Vishwaraj Singh Mewar, Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi, and Rajasthan LoP Rajendra Rathore.
Many rebel candidates of BJP and Congress withdrew their names after persuasion. But still, around 45 rebel candidates from both parties are in the fray. These also include MLAs, former MLAs and party officials.
Voting began in 199 out of 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan on Saturday after days of hectic campaigning by major political parties including the ruling Congress and BJP.
Elections in the Karanpur constituency were adjourned due to the passing of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar.
The polling began at 7 am and voters can cast their ballots until 6 pm.
Adequate security arrangements have been made to ensure peaceful and fair elections, as per a poll official.
The counting of votes will be taken up on December 3.
In 2018, the Congress won 99 seats, while the BJP won 73. Gehlot assumed the CM position with the support of BSP MLAs and independents.
