Aspirants trying all tricks even before nominee list

Despite the fact that their names are yet to be declared by their respective high commands to contest, the ticket aspirants in both the Congress and BJP in Rajasthan have kick-started their campaigns for the Assembly polls slated on December 7.

With the Assembly polls just six weeks away, the aspiring candidates are trying unique ways to connect with the voters of their respective constituencies. These include cycle rides, morning walks, attending weddings, visits to mosque and temples, community-level discussions, etc.

Even aspirants from erstwhile royal families are out on the streets and not leaving any stone unturned to woo voters.

Rukshmani Kumari, a former royal from Chomu Thikana, which is 40 km away from Jaipur, chose a cycle to reach the thousands of people in her constituency.

Draped in a chiffon saree and sports shoes, Rukshmani, also the president of the All India Professional Congress in Rajasthan, covers around 30 km every day to reach every nook and corner of Chomu.

She said she preferred riding a cycle to the grand car cavalcade in order to reach every village in Chomu.

"I get an overwhelming response with men and women connecting openly with me. If I am given a ticket by the party high command, areas of health, education and women's empowerment will be my agenda," Rukshmani said.

So far, Kumari has covered 200 km as a part of her pre-poll campaign, which she named as 'Sankalp Cycle Yatra'.

Similarly, many aspirants have started going for regular morning and evening walks in playgrounds and parks in their constituencies.

"One cannot wait for the list and then start campaigning, which is why aspirants have already started meeting community leaders and are making frequent visits to parks, nearby colleges, temples and mosques to tap the voters," a senior BJP leader told DH.

Apart from this, ward-level campaigns are also being done.

"My home constituency of Malviya Nagar has 40 wards and I have made ten visits to each ward. Also, I have community leaders and student leaders to get feedback and support," Congress leader and spokesperson Archana Sharma said.