Rajasthan polls: In the winter of 2018, Congress and BJP eye summer of 2019

The BJP leadership wants to replace most sitting MLAs with new candidates, but it has failed to achieve much on that for fear of upsetting Vasundhara Raje and its prospects in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls

Deserted until Thursday, the Congress headquarters in Jaipur came alive just after midnight on Thursday when supporters burst firecrackers following the party’s announcement of candidates in 152 of the 200 seats for the Rajasthan Assembly polls.

The last time Rajasthan returned an incumbent government to power was in 1993. Congress supporters are already smelling a win. The ticket distribution, while delayed, has galvanised supporters with all top leaders, including Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot, C P Joshi and Girija Vyas, contesting the election. The leadership question, postponed until after the election results, is likely to help supporters bury their differences temporarily.