Anta by-election result hints at Naresh Meena playing spoilsport for Congress again? Counting reaches halfway-mark in Rajasthan

 

 

 

 

 

Rajasthan's Anta seat is witnessing a triangular contest between Congress leader Pramod Jain 'Bhaya', BJP’s Morpal Suman, and Independent Naresh Meena, as counting progresses.

 

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI) website, Pramod Jain was leading Meena by 7,194 votes with ten rounds left to count. While the former minister bagged 37,158 votes, Meena, who is also from an INC background, secured 29,964 votes. Morpal Suman has got 26,932. Interestingly, former CM Vasundhara Raje had actively campaigned for her party candidate.

 

With a total of 15 candidates in the fray, the constituency recorded a voter turnout of 80.21 per cent during the polling held on November 11.

 

This is the third time in three years that Meena has rebelled and jeopardised the Congress’s chances in the state, Indian Express said in a report. In the 2023 Assembly elections, Meena had rebelled and contested from the Chhabra seat. While he finished third, taking away a section of the Congress vote bank meant BJP won the seat in Baran district. Similarly, when the Grand Old Party denied him a ticket for the Deoli-Uniara Assembly by-election in neighbouring Tonk last year, he fought and finished second behind the BJP. Congress party's official nominee Kastoor Chand Meena was pushed to the third position.

 

 

 

However,  Naresh Meena is capable of eating into the votes of both parties today and can ultimtely decide the outcome of the by-election, Hindi media reports said. He stands a realistic chance of toppling both parties, they had warned. 

 

Around this time last year, the BJP had won five out of seven seats which went to by-elections in Rajasthan, Indian Express report said.

 

While exit polls gave a slight lead for the BJP, but the overwhelming voter turnout of over 80% has made the contest extremely interesting. Ante falls under the Hadoti region, which considered a stronghold of former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

 

 

 

The counting is underway in the seminar hall of Baran PG College.

India