In Jodhpur, Rajasthan, exuding assurance regarding the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat expressed firm belief that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will clinch victory comfortably across all 25 constituencies in Rajasthan, further projecting a crossing of the 400-seat mark in the Lok Sabha.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, representing the BJP in the Jodhpur constituency, is in electoral contention against Congress leader Karan Singh Uchiyarda. Addressing the press, Shekhawat articulated, “Today’s voter turnout is expected to be significant. The populace is appreciative of the initiatives outlined by Prime Minister Modi. We anticipate securing the Jodhpur seat, as well as a resounding triumph in all 25 constituencies in Rajasthan, and surpassing 400 seats nationally.”
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, along with his family, also exercised their franchise in Jodhpur. Gehlot, in conversation with reporters, took aim at Prime Minister Modi, alleging that the Prime Minister had diverted the electoral discourse towards inconsequential matters. “It’s disheartening to witness the direction in which democracy is veering. The Prime Minister’s remarks… his analysis, and subsequently being ridiculed… I refrain from delving into his remarks about the ‘mangalsutra’. Elections ought to be contested on the grounds of progress – focusing on issues such as unemployment, inflation, and the widening economic disparity… He is deliberately steering the conversation towards the ‘mangalsutra’. What relevance does that hold to the manifesto?… With the language he employs, I believe, for the first time, the Prime Minister’s credibility has been called into question. People now realize that he deceives,” he asserted.
“The BJP finds itself in dire straits. The prevailing sentiment favors the Congress, and indeed, the nation… The results from the initial phase of elections were promising. Today’s outcome is anticipated to be similarly favorable. This sentiment isn’t confined to Rajasthan alone but extends nationwide,” he elaborated. Regarding the BJP’s ‘400 paar’ (beyond 400) slogan, the former Rajasthan CM remarked, “One can observe that neither the PM nor Amit Shah are championing that slogan. It has been retracted. Following the first phase, that slogan has fallen silent. They have come to the realization that it’s untenable.”
Phase 2 of polling, held on April 26, encompasses Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota, and Jhalawar-Baran. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP swept all 25 parliamentary seats in Rajasthan. However, in 2019, the BJP secured 24 seats while the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) clinched the remaining seat.
Initially, 89 constituencies were slated for polling on this day. However, the Election Commission later announced the cancellation of voting in Madhya Pradesh’s Betul constituency during the second phase, owing to the demise of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate.