Jaipur Rural, which goes to the polls on May 6, will witness a clash of Olympians this time. The BJP candidate, sitting MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, is an Olympic silver medallist in shooting (2004, double trap). His prime challenger, Congress candidate Krishna Poonia (MLA for Sadulpur in Churu Lok Sabha constituency), has represented India in discus throw at three Olympics.
The two Olympians are a study in contrast in their current political roles. People are in awe of Rathore and refer to the Union minister as “Colonel sahib” in deference to his Army background. Poonia is easygoing and aims to establish a connect with the electorate of the predominantly rural constituency by reminding them that she is a ‘kisan ki beti (farmer’s daughter)’.
Rathore, 49, is running a meticulously planned campaign, perhaps a takeaway from his military days. He has maintained a team in Jaipur to look after the constituency and has expanded it in the run-up to the elections. On the campaign trail, the support team is connected through walkie-talkies, and a mobile app tells them the location of their teammates in real time. Nothing is left to chance—Rathore’s entourage travels with a sound system (to ensure that his speeches are heard clearly) and an open jeep painted in BJP colours ready for doing a roadshow.
His outreach hinges on Brand Modi. Rathore talks about how Narendra Modi has provided the country with a “strong government” and how he has put Pakistan in its place with his “bold action” after the terrorist attack in Pulwama. He tells the people to keep nation-building in mind, rather than local issues, when they vote.
Poonia, 36, began her campaign much later than Rathore as her party announced her candidature only on April 1. But she has accepted the challenge of defeating Rathore and is attempting to win hearts by telling the people that she is one of them. Though Poonia hails from Haryana, her husband’s family is from Jaipur Rural. “This is my sasural (in-laws place),” she says.
Her outreach is informal. She mingles freely with the voters and, with folded hands, asks them to give her a chance. Aware that many of the villagers would be busy harvesting the wheat crop and hence not attending her meetings, Poonia makes several stops to meet farmers at work and empathises with them. “I come from an ordinary family in a village,” says Poonia at her meetings. “I know what life in a village is like. I understand your problems and issues.”
To the women voters, she says that she is the first woman candidate in a Lok Sabha election from Jaipur Rural and asks them to come out in large numbers to support her. “It is a busy time for all of you,” she says. “There are weddings in your families. There is work to be done on your farms. But you have to come to the polling booth on May 6 and vote for me.”
Rathore, who defeated former Union minister C.P. Joshi of the Congress in 2014 by a margin of 3.32 lakh votes, is banking on nationalism and the resumption of Army recruitment here. He points out that prior to 2014, no recruitment into the Army took place in Jaipur Rural for six years. The constituency has a strong pro-armed forces sentiment, with a large number of youth being in the Army or the paramilitary forces. Rohitash Lamba, a Pulwama martyr, hailed from a village in the area.
The Union minister has built sporting facilities in the area, including mini stadia, fitness centres and open gyms. Poonia, however, says he is inaccessible to the people and unaware of their problems. “People are unhappy,” she says. “They say that Rathore has not fulfilled his promises. Be it education or infrastructure or farming, the people’s expectations have not been meet.”
The caste arithmetic in the constituency favours Poonia as her community, Jats, is dominant in the area. Rathore’s Rajput caste has far fewer numbers. Poonia is also counting on the Gujjars, Yadavs and scheduled castes, but Rathore hopes that the nationalistic fervour will trump the caste equations.