Azhar bats on sticky wicket in Tonk

For former Indian cricket captain and Congress candidate Mohammad Azharuddin, Tonk-Sawai Madhopur constituency is becoming a difficult pitch to bat on.

The former cricketer is facing tough contest from Sukhbir Singh Jaunpuria of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Jagmohan Meena of the National People's Party and Independent candidate Makhan Lal Meena.

Tonk, which will go to polls April 24 along with four other constituencies in the state, is traditionally a Congress stronghold but development has never really touched the ground in the area.

“We have neither industries nor facilities of good roads or basic infrastructure,” said R K Meena, a local resident.

Therefore, voters in the assembly election switched over to the BJP, and the party won all the eight assembly seats falling within the Tonk-Sawai Madhopur Lok Sabha constituency.
There are about 3.80 lakh minority voters in this constituency and with about 3.5 lakh Dalits, the Congress is hoping to retain this seat.

Analysts predict that if there is a good percentage of minority and Dalit votes, things may go in favour of the Congress. Otherwise, the scene looks bleak for the party.

BJP is hoping that the caste combination and some percentage of Dalit votes may tilt the contest the favour of Jaunpuria.