Udaipur- In the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, the political landscape witnessed significant developments, particularly in the battle for the Udaipur Lok Sabha seat.
Dr. Mannalal Rawat, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate and former Deputy Transport Commissioner, emerged victorious with a resounding margin against his Congress counterpart, Tarachand Meena, a former IAS officer who had served as the Collector of Udaipur.
Dr. Rawat secured victory by a margin of 2,61,608 votes, garnering a total of 7,38,286 votes, while Meena trailed behind with 4,76,678 votes.
Interestingly, the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) candidate, Prakash Chand, added to the dynamics of the election by securing a noteworthy 2,17,138 votes.
The electoral landscape also featured the participation of other candidates, each contributing to the dynamic nature of the electoral process. Notable among these were Dalpataram Garasia from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) securing 14,460 votes, Rajendra Kumar Meena from the Indian People's Green Party (IPGP) with 6,777 votes, and several independent candidates including Kanjilal Damor (5,931 votes), Prabhulal Meena (7,996 votes), and Dr. Savita Kumari Ahari (8,162 votes).
Following the initial count of postal ballots, the proceedings transitioned seamlessly to the tallying of votes cast through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), which commenced shortly after 8:30 am. Dr. Rawat's lead was apparent from the onset of the counting process and sustained until the culmination of the final round.
While the BJP celebrated its victory in Udaipur, the Congress party found itself reflecting on a missed opportunity for strategic collaboration.
The BAP candidate's victory highlighted the margin of defeat for the Congress candidate, which has become a cause for lament and self-evaluation among the Congress top leadership.
Despite making significant strides in the Rajasthan Lok Sabha elections, securing 11 out of the 25 seats in the state, Congress failed to capitalize on a potential alliance with the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP), known for its strong grassroots connections with tribal voters.
The BAP had expressed interest in contesting the Udaipur seat, yet an alliance between the two parties failed to materialize. Instead, Congress opted to form an alliance with BAP in the Banswara-Dungarpur seat, supporting Rajkumar Roat, a decision that has proved beneficial for the grand old party.
In hindsight, the decision not to form an alliance with BAP in Udaipur appears to have been a strategic oversight for Congress. Rajkumar Roat's subsequent victory in the constituency, with a substantial margin exceeding 2.40 lakh votes, underscores the potential impact of strategic alliances in electoral outcomes.
The Mooknayak had spoken to Dr. Jitendra Meena, the national spokesperson of BAP, during the poll campaigning. Dr. Meena cited severe budget constraints as a major obstacle in reaching voters on a larger scale. He remarked, "You would have noted that there is not a single poster or banner of the BAP candidate to be seen anywhere. Urban voters would have rarely seen him."
However, the BAP relied heavily on door-to-door canvassing in rural areas, especially in Kotra, Jhadol, Kherwada, etc., where their base of Adivasi supporters has been very strong.
The Udaipur parliamentary constituency consists of eight assembly segments, all predominantly tribal except for Udaipur city.
Political analysts attribute the BJP's success in Udaipur's urban areas to the support of Jain voters, who have been staunch supporters of the saffron party.
This missed opportunity highlights the importance of strategic alliances in electoral politics and the potential consequences of failing to capitalize on them.
While it is said that if the Congress had agreed to BAP's proposal and conceded to not field its candidate in Udaipur, supporting BAP's Prakash Chand instead, the outcome could have been completely different.
A retired police officer from the tribal community, speaking on the condition of anonymity, concurs with this analysis. He observes that considering the margin by which Tarachand Meena lost and the substantial votes garnered by the BAP candidate, who stood third, it appears to have been a foolish decision by Congress to not take BAP's proposal seriously.
It was a double celebration for the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) on June 4, as its candidate Jaikrishn Patel emerged victorious in the byelection for Banswara district’s Bagidora Assembly seat.
The results were announced alongside the 2024 Lok Sabha election outcomes. Patel defeated BJP's Subhash Tambolia by an impressive margin of 51,434 votes. The Bagidora byelection voting took place on April 26, coinciding with the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan.
The Bagidora seat became vacant after the incumbent MLA and former Minister, Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya, resigned from the Congress and joined the BJP in February, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Supported by the opposition Congress, Patel secured 1,22,573 votes in the byelection, while Tambolia received 71,139 votes. Patel had also contested in the 2023 State Assembly elections, finishing second to Malviya. In that election, BJP candidate Krishna Katara had finished third.
Tarachand Meena, a 2011 batch IAS officer promoted from the State Civil Services, took voluntary retirement (VRS) three years before his official retirement.
Originally from Pali district, Meena was chosen as the Congress candidate for the Udaipur Lok Sabha seat. The Congress party viewed him as the most suitable candidate for the tribal-dominated constituency. Notably, Meena is closely associated with former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, a relationship highlighted by Meena receiving the 'CM Excellence' Award in April 2023 for his service.
Following the rise of Bhajan Lal Sharma's government in Rajasthan, Meena was placed in the APO (Awaiting Posting Orders) status due to his ties with Gehlot. After two months in this status, Meena chose to take VRS.
During Ashok Gehlot's tenure, Meena served as the District Collector of Udaipur from January 2022. He also held various other significant roles, including Commissioner of Tribal Area Development and Director of Mines, along with additional responsibilities in different departments. His extensive work in these roles solidified his influence within the tribal community.
As the District Collector of Udaipur, Meena fostered strong connections with the tribal community, acting more as a leader than merely an official. This approach significantly boosted his standing among voters in the Udaipur constituency. There were speculations about Meena contesting in the 2023 assembly elections, but he was not nominated at that time.
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