Jaipur- In the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan, the Congress party has strategically nominated three women candidates to contest from various constituencies. Sangeeta Beniwal is representing the party from Pali, Urmila Jain Bhaya is contesting from Baran-Jhalawad, and Sanjana Jatav is the candidate from Bharatpur.
It is noteworthy that while the BJP has also nominated five women candidates for the elections, they are competing in different constituencies, eliminating the possibility of direct woman-to-woman electoral battles.
This election marks a departure from previous trends, where Congress had fielded six women candidates in 2014 and four in 2019, but has now reduced the number to three, signaling a focused and strategic approach towards representation.
For the first time in the history of the parliamentary elections in Pali, the Congress party has fielded any woman candidate. Sangeeta Beniwal, is former chairperson of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. She has served as the president of the Women Rural Congress in Jodhpur. Moreover, she is known to be aligned with the camp led by former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
BJP has also never nominated a female candidate here. Beniwal is the fifth woman from Marwar region (Jodhpur, Nagaur, Jalore, Pali) to be given a ticket by any national party. Before Beniwal, four women have been elected to Parliament. Three of them were from national parties, while one was an independent candidate.
What's noteworthy is that all of them won their first elections, but whoever got a second chance, lost. Among them were Sushila Bangaru from Jalore representing BJP, Jyoti Mirdha from Nagaur representing Congress, and Chandresh Kumari from Jodhpur representing Congress. Apart from these, Krishna Kumari, the Rajmata of the Jodhpur royal family, won as an independent candidate and represented Jodhpur in Parliament. No national party has nominated a female candidate from Barmer-Jaisalmer.
In Pali, the political landscape is poised for a familiar clash between the Sirvi and Jat communities. PP Chaudhary, the sitting MP who is contesting for the third consecutive time , represents a strong presence of the Jat community in the region. This head-to-head battle between the two prominent figures reflects the intensity of the political competition in the region. In 2019, Chaudhary had defeated Badriram Jakhar of Congress. Sangeeta's candidacy brings a fresh perspective to the contest, representing the Congress party's efforts to introduce new faces and strategies in its bid to secure victory. On the other hand, PP Chaudhary's incumbency and experience present a formidable challenge for Sangeeta, making the electoral dynamics in Pali even more intriguing.
The Congress party has strategically chosen Urmila Jain Bhaya as its candidate for the Baran-Jhalawar seat in the upcoming elections. Urmila, is the Bara Jila Pramukh and the wife of former state minister Pramod Jain Bhaya, who brings with her a blend of experience and grassroots connections.
However, her path to victory is challenged by the formidable presence of BJP candidate Dushyant Singh, son of former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, who is vying for his fifth consecutive term in this constituency.
The Baran-Jhalawar seat has remained in BJP's grasp for the past 35 years, underscoring the uphill battle faced by Urmila and the Congress party in this electoral contest. The clash between Urmila and Dushyant symbolizes a significant political tussle, with both parties striving to assert their dominance in the region.
In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Urmila contested from the constituency, where she faced off against Dushyant Singh. Despite putting up a strong fight, Urmila fell short of victory as Dushyant secured 428,996 votes compared to her 376,208 votes, resulting in a margin of approximately 52,841 votes. Now, after 15 years, these two leaders find themselves once again in a direct electoral confrontation, setting the stage for a compelling rematch in the Baran-Jhalawar constituency.
51-year old Urmila is renowned for her devotion to cow welfare and social work, exemplified by their philanthropic endeavors such as organizing thousands of cost-free marriages and establishing a hospital for the aid of distressed animals and livestock.
Furthermore, she prioritizes education by providing scholarships to students through various institutions. Her husband, Pramod Jain Bhaya, a two-time minister in the Rajasthan government, has contested and won in five assembly elections, serving as an MLA thrice since his initial victory as an independent candidate in 2003. Their son, Yash Jain, leads the Baran Youth Congress as its district president and holds a degree in LLB, while their daughters, Riddhi and Siddhi, are both IIT graduates actively contributing to society post-marriage.
In 2021, Urmila Jain Bhaya assumed the role of Zila Pramukh following a contentious turn of events in the Zila Parishad elections. Despite the BJP securing 13 out of 25 seats in Baran district, along with an equal number of seats won by Congress candidates, her husband, Pramod Jain Bhaya, orchestrated her appointment as Pramukh despite lacking a majority.
This maneuver occurred amidst allegations of cross-voting by BJP's Zilla Parishad members, resulting in Urmila securing 13 votes while the defeated BJP candidate, Priyanka Sharma, received 12 votes.
Sanjana Jatav, a rising political figure within the Congress party, garnered attention and acclaim when she was nominated as the Congress candidate from Kathumar seat in Alwar, in the state assembly elections of 2023. This move by the Congress party marked a departure from tradition, as the party placed its confidence in a young female leader, replacing the veteran four-time MLA, Babulal Bairwa, in the Kathumar constituency.
Despite facing a narrow defeat by a margin of only 400 votes in Kathumar, Sanjana Jatav's performance and dedication did not go unnoticed. Consequently, the Congress party has chosen to field her as their candidate for the Bharatpur Lok Sabha seat in the current elections. Sanjana Jatav's journey in politics has been marked by her active involvement and contributions as a diligent party worker, coupled with her academic background, holding an LLB degree, and her role as a member of the Alwar Zilla Parishad.
Particularly noteworthy is Sanjana Jatav's emergence as a prominent young leader representing the Scheduled Caste (SC) category. Her assertive participation and vocal expressions of her views in party forums have further solidified her standing within the Congress ranks. It is widely speculated that her rise within the party ranks accelerated after establishing a connection with Priyanka Gandhi.
Sanjana Jatav's association with Priyanka Gandhi's "Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon" campaign has been instrumental in amplifying the message of empowerment and gender equality, especially among women workers of the Congress party and rural women. Priyanka Gandhi has reportedly expressed satisfaction with Sanjana's efforts, which contributed to her gaining prominence within the party.
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