Ajmer Lok Sabha Elections 2024: All You Need to Know About the Constituency – News18

The Ajmer Lok Sabha constituency is one of Rajasthan’s 25 parliamentary constituencies. It encompasses parts of both Ajmer and Jaipur districts. The constituency is further divided into eight assembly constituencies: Dudu, Kishangarh, Pushkar, Ajmer North, Ajmer South, Nasirabad, Masuda, and Kekri.

Date of election: 26 April, 2024

Current MP: Bhagirath Chaudhary (BJP)

Candidates: Bhagirath Chaudhary (BJP) and Ramachandra Chaudhary (Congress)

Key Voting Factors

• Voter choice in Ajmer Lok Sabha constituency is determined by a complex interplay of caste dynamics and regional issues. BJP’s strong presence, coupled with the support of the Rawat community and the Modi factor, positions the party favourably here.
• BJP’s Stronghold: The BJP, particularly ex-MP Rasa Singh Rawat, held a dominant position in Ajmer from 1989 onwards. Rawat’s five-term tenure as MP underscored the party’s historical strength in the region. He passed away in 2021, but his legacy continues to influence the constituency.
• Although the 2009 election saw a shift with Sachin Pilot securing victory for Congress in Ajmer, the 2014 Modi wave brought the seat back to BJP. At that time Sanwar Lal Jat was elected MP.
• BJP currently has a strong sway on the Ajmer seat, having held it for 10 years. BJP’s holds 7 out of 8 assembly segments within the Ajmer Lok Sabha constituency.
• But the defeat of the sitting MP in Kishangarh assembly segment in 2023 suggests potential vulnerabilities. Bhagirath Chaudhary’s defeat in the assembly election raises questions about his individual popularity. In fact he was pushed to the third place.
• Patni Family’s Economic Power: Bhagirath Chaudhary maintains close ties with the powerful Patni family and enjoys their support. The Patni family, led by Ashok Patni, holds extensive mining operations and a strong foothold in the cement industry.
• This economic dominance translates into substantial political influence within the Ajmer region. Their influence over thousands of workers and their prominent role can potentially sway votes in favour of Chaudhary.
• Caste Dynamics: Ajmer boasts a diverse caste composition, with SC/ST communities constituting approximately 22% of the population. Jats represent a significant voting bloc at around 16-17%, followed by Muslims at around 12%. Rajput and Vaishya communities also hold sway in certain areas.
• Jats and Gujjars constitute major voting blocs in Ajmer. While the BJP candidate’s Jat identity might offer some advantage, the Congress has sought to leverage Sachin Pilot’s influence to garner Gujjar support.
• Jat influence appears concentrated in specific pockets like Kishangarh and Nasirabad. Jat voters often support candidates with a higher perceived chance of winning, irrespective of party affiliation. However, issues like farmer protests, female wrestlers’ protests etc. could skew the Jat vote.
• The Rawats: The Rawat community has witnessed a rise in political prominence in the area. Several members have secured electoral victories and attained key positions within the BJP government.
• BJP has actively cultivated their support. Suresh Rawat’s appointment as Water Resources Minister exemplifies this strategy. The Rawat community’s support is crucial for BJP’s success in Ajmer and neighbouring regions like Rajsamand.
• Ramchandra Chaudhary: Congress has pinned its hopes on Ramchandra Chaudhary, known as the “dairy king” of Ajmer. He has a long-standing association with the Ajmer Dairy network and connections with local farmers.
• This grants him a strong support base in rural areas. Despite his rural popularity, Chaudhary has historically struggled to gain traction in urban areas, leading to defeats in previous elections, including contests as an independent candidate and on a Congress ticket.
• Chaudhary’s selection has also created angst withing Congress ranks. Congress dropped the much younger Riju Jhunjhunwala, who has joined the BJP in revolt. Riju is the Chairman of RSWM Ltd., one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of textiles.
• Sachin Pilot: Pilot holds significant sway over Gujjar voters due to his past representation of the Ajmer constituency and his community affiliation. Pilot’s active involvement and mobilisation of Gujjar support is essential for the Congress candidate’s success. Without his intervention, Gujjar votes might be split, weakening the Congress’s position.
• Interestingly, prior to the assembly elections Pilot and former CM Ashok Gehlot’s supporters had clashed in Ajmer at an office bearer’s meet. On the forefront were the backers of Ramachandra Chaudhary and then RTDC Dharmendra Rathore. Rathore is a long time Gehlot loyalist.
• Urban-Rural Divide: The BJP enjoys strong support in urban areas like Ajmer Town, while the Congress candidate’s influence appears concentrated in rural segments. This urban-rural divide poses a challenge for the Congress, as urban centres often hold a larger concentration of voters.
• Religious Significance: Ajmer holds immense religious importance for both Hindus and Muslims, housing the revered dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti and the unique Brahma temple in Pushkar. This religious diversity adds a unique dimension to the constituency’s social fabric.
• The PM’s decision to hold a rally in Pushkar, the site of the historic Brahma temple, on April 6 (foundation day of BJP) emphasizes the great importance BJP puts on the seat.
• Despite the efforts of the central government in developing the Ajmer Dargah, and also visits by PM Modi, ground reports indicate that the Muslim vote will largely stay with the Congress.
• The claim by Maharana Pratap Sena that Ajmer Dargah is a “sacred Hindu temple” has also queered the pitch against BJP among Muslims. The issue has overshadowed the PM’s offerings to the Dargah twice in the past year, and the promise by Centre to provide develop Sufi shrines like Ajmer and Tajbagh.
• Modi Factor: However, the Modi wave remains a significant influence among Hindu voters, potentially overshadowing local issues and candidate preferences. On ground reports indicate that the huge popularity of the PM could be a major factor in swinging votes for the BJP.

Key Election Issues

• Paper Leaks: Exam paper leaks continue to be a major issue in Ajmer. There is considerable youth anger over incidents, despite the efforts of successive governments. Recently, 14 trainee cops were arrested in connection with a 2021 paper leak case. The leak of papers for recruitment of teachers under RPSC (Rajasthan Public Service Commission) had also become a hot topic, with Sachin Pilot leading a five-day padayatra from Ajmer to Jaipur against then Chief Minister Gehlot. The newly formed BJP government has taken a strong stance against paper leaks, with Chief Minister Bhajan Lal highlighting the arrest of 63 individuals involved in such activities.
• Power Supply: Ajmer faces a deficit of power supply in the constituency which has led to load shedding. With summers approaching the issue of power supply will be on the minds of voters as temperatures reach as high as 45℃. According to the latest reports, areas across Ajmer are currently facing 1-4 hours of load shedding.
• Traffic Congestion: Construction activities associated with NHAI’s metro projects have burdened the already congested Ajmer Road, causing inconvenience and delays for commuters. Local residents and authorities have expressed concerns about the potential escalation of traffic woes. While metro development will enhance public transportation infrastructure, the traffic congestion due to work has disrupted lives for residents.
• Lack of Skill Training Institutes and premium Universities: According to reports, the youth in Ajmer are exasperated by the lack of higher technical education opportunities. Constituents have shown disappointment at the lack of IITs and IIMs in Ajmer despite it being an educational hub. Constituents feel that successive state government’s failure to tackle these issues are also contributing to higher-than-normal levels of unemployment.
• Limited Development: Ajmer boasts historical importance as the former capital of Rajasthan and possesses well-established connectivity and key government institutions. Despite its relatively higher amount of development, Ajmer lags capital Jaipur in city infrastructure.
• Limited Influence of Agniveer Scheme: According to on ground reports, the Agniveer scheme’s impact on Jat youth in Ajmer is considered minimal due to the region’s lower participation in the military and a greater focus on business and local industries.

Voter Demographics

Total Voters (2019 Election) — 18,62,158 voters

Rural Voters: ~ 66.3%

Urban Voters: ~ 33.7%

Religious Composition

Muslim : ~ 12.7%

Christian: ~ 0.4%

Jain: ~ 1.5%

Sikh: ~ 0.27%

Social Composition

SC Voters: ~ 19.5%

ST Voters: ~ 3%

Infrastructure Development

• Ajmer Development Plan: Ajmer city, Kishangarh, Kekri and Beawar are included in this plan. Many schemes related to heritage and city development including water distribution, roads, streetlights, sewerage, transportation are part of the plan. The plan envisages that there will beno no gap between Jaipur and Ajmer in infrastructure in 10 to 15 years. The population of Ajmer is expected to expand, and the city is likely to be designated a Metro City in the future.
• Ajmer Metro: Work on Ajmer Metro has been started and is currently ongoing in the city. As mentioned earlier, the metro work is causing traffic congestion and temporary roadblocks. However, the residents largely feel the city will benefit once the project is finally completed.
• Ring Road: A 147 KM long ring road is being built in Jaipur, and as a result Ajmer will eventually benefit. The Northern Ring Road project is expected to cut down transit time to Delhi, as traffic can avoid entering Jaipur city. But residents along Ajmer Road are currently facing difficulties due to NHAI blocking inlet roads. The blocked roads have impacted daily commute and accessibility.
• Ajmer Smart City: Ajmer was added to the smart city project back in 2015. Since 2015, 34 projects have been launched under the smart city scheme of which 15 have been completed while the rest are at different stages of completion.

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