In the Jaipur (Rural) Lok Sabha constituency, one of Rajasthan’s reconfigured seats following the recent delimitation, there is a customary clash between youth and the old guard, as well as an age-long Jat versus Rajput caste conflict.
Rajyavardhan Rathore won the Jaipur (Rural) constituency in 2019, however, he currently represents the Jhotwara assembly constituency, making space for new candidates in the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP’s candidate is Rao Rajendra Singh, 65, while the Congress has put its confidence in Anil Chopra, a 35-year-old supporter of former deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot. Singh is an experienced leader who has represented Shahpura thrice and was elected from Viratnagar. In addition, he served as deputy speaker of the legislature. However, he was not allocated a ticket in 2023 after losing the 2018 assembly election. Chopra, on the other hand, is quite inexperienced. Despite his involvement in student politics, he has yet to contest an assembly election.
He attempted to capitalize on the constituency’s youth demographic, which accounts for around 45% of registered voters. ET got up with him just before he launched his election campaign. “I never wanted to run in an MLA election. I knew I had to run for MP, and now the party has given me the opportunity,” he adds, adding that he has been campaigning till late despite starting early. “I have completed canvassing in 225 panchayats and only 145 are left.” Chopra, a Jat, is attempting to keep it completely local, speaking about youth and farmers. He claims that the Agniveer initiative has harmed the career chances of young people who have long looked to military service as a respectable and popular vocation. Chopra is also raising the plight of farmers, saying they have to be given MSP.
Singh is emphasizing the successes of the Narendra Modi government. His candidature had taken some by surprise. Though a recognized leader with a large following, the soft-spoken Rajput was not on the list of likely candidates. His program, led by his wife and children, aims to connect all communities in rural locations. Vikram Chaudhary, a Phulera village inhabitant, feels that Anil represents the future. However, the BJP enjoys a substantial advantage in the assembly segment. It won six out of the eight assembly phases. Congress could only win the other two.
