As the political winds start to gust with vigor, the desert state of Rajasthan gears up for another decisive combat in the electoral arena, specifically the Jodhpur Lok Sabha constituency. Emerging from the shadows of opulent forts and the tales of valor is the narrative of democracy’s robust exercise. This constituency stands among the 25 Lok Sabha seats of the state, poised to partake in the grand festival of Indian democracy in 2024.
The Election Commission of India, the revered umpire in this vast democratic game, unveiled the long-awaited itinerary for elections on the 16th of March. According to this high-level directive, the electoral process for the Jodhpur Lok Sabha seat unfolds in the second phase of the nationwide polling.
Marking the calendars of the nation, the 26th of April has been decreed as the date for voters in Jodhpur to cast their ballots, sealing the fate of their leaders in electronic time capsules. While the citizens exercise their rights amidst the scorching summer, the results will only be known on the 4th of June, with the counting of votes casting a spotlight on the winners and the vanquished.
Traditionally, the period leading up to the polling day witnesses a flurry of political activities. Candidates for various Lok Sabha constituencies are announced in strategic phases; some political entities, with a well-calibrated plan of action, had announced their warriors for Jodhpur even before the election dates were etched in stone, while others chose to let the suspense brew and strategically declare their candidates with the electoral stages progressing.
The combatants for Jodhpur are no neophytes to the political gladiator ring. The Bharatiya Janata Party places its confidence once more in Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, a name that resonates with a note of incumbency and victory among the local voters. Representing the Congress party is Karan Singh Uchiyarda, who shoulders the aspirations of the grand old political institution, keen on etching its own saga of comeback.
Historically, the tussle for Jodhpur has always been a closely watched spectacle. The Lok Sabha elections of 2019, the previous electoral tango, had Gajendra Singh Shekhawat of the BJP clinching the seat with an awe-inspiring majority of 788,888 votes. This resounding triumph was cast over his Congress rival, Vaibhav Gehlot, who was trailing by 274,440 votes, having managed to garner 514,448 votes to his kitty.
Prior to that, in the elections of 2014, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat had emerged victorious as well, claiming the Jodhpur Lok Sabha seat by defeating Chandresh Kumari of the INC. With a vote tally reaching 713,515, Shekhawat proved that the political terrain of Jodhpur could well be navigated by the saffron party.
The continuing saga of Jodhpur’s electoral chronicles thus moves forward with the much-awaited 2024 polls where seasoned political tacticians take center stage again. As the sun sets on the land of kings, the crowning of a political emperor for the next term lies in the hands of Jodhpur’s citizens. With pencils sharpened and indelible inks set to create history, the question that pricks every mind is whether the reigning champions would retain their throne or if the winds of change would usher in a new rule. Only time will morph into the storyteller of the outcomes as the 4th of June stands circled in anticipation.
