As a result of the of Lok Sabha polls in Rajasthan is a xerox of 2014 verdict with the BJP winning all 25 seats. However, this time both the Congress and the BJP recorded an increase in the vote share across the state.
The saffron party in Rajasthan has witnessed nearly 20% increase in the vote share from the last assembly elections. In 2018 assembly polls held in December, the BJP lost to Congress, but managed a vote share of 38.8%, which was only 1.5% less than Congress’ 39.3%.
However, in Lok Sabha polls, the BJP’s vote share went up to 58.5% while that of Congress fell from 39.3% in assembly polls to 34.2%. While BJP has recorded an improvement of 4% compared to 54.5% which it recorded in 2014, the Congress party managed to record a 1.6% increase in vote share compared to 2014 LS polls.
The trend of the electorate has reaffirmed that voters were against the then-chief minister Vasundhara Raje in the assembly polls, but in 2019 general elections they ensured a historic win for the party. It once again establishes the popular slogan that was used by BJP supporters in one of the initial rally of PM Modi, "Vasundhara teri khair nahi, Modi tujh se bair nahi (Modi, we have nothing against you, it's the Vasundhara who we are opposing)"
According to sources, the force of RSS was the backbone of BJP's landslide victory in Rajasthan. "In Lok Sabha polls, BJP central leadership had taken the reins in their hand. The RSS worked hard to promote and manage the momentum on the ground since December 2018", a senior BJP leader told DH.
Moreover, what helped the saffron party was the infighting in the opponent. The Congress that with great difficulty managed to exact 100 out of 200 (just 50 percent) seats just five months ago to form the government in Rajasthan, failed to learn from the mistakes. Both Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his deputy CM Sachin Pilot kept denying the existence of infighting.
"There was lack of enthusiasm in Congress. The party's state unit has become the house of two powers which keep repelling. Also, the delay in the tickets and campaigning was the other reason party failed to win a single seat", a former MP and senior Congress leader told DH.