Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said the Congress would win the Sardarshahar Assembly by-election with a huge majority and maintain its record in the bypolls.
The bypoll in Sardarshahar was necessitated by the death of Congress MLA Bhanwar Lal Sharma. The state's ruling party has nominated his son Anil Sharma as candidate, while the BJP has fielded Ashok Pincha. The bypoll will be held on December 5 and the result declared on December 8.
"We have won six out of eight bypolls. The deposits of BJP candidates have been forfeited. They will come third. This election is very important for us," Gehlot told reporters while campaigning in Sardarshahar.
Referring to the Rajasthan government's various welfare schemes, Gehlot said, "No other state in India has taken the decisions we have taken so far."
He said whether it was restoring the Old Pension Scheme for government employees or providing medical health insurance, Rajasthan had taken steps towards good governance.
He also took a dig at local leaders of the BJP and said, "These people have no substance in their words. The Congress will win with a huge majority."
Speaking on the Congress' 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', Gehlot said the support it was receiving had shaken the BJP.
"The 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' is getting huge support from people everywhere. A message has gone across the country about what Rahul Gandhi wants -- inflation, unemployment should be reduced and there should be politics of peace, love and brotherhood," he said.
Gehlot added that Gandhi was raising issues that were in the hearts and minds of people.
"The yatra is going on smoothly and drawing huge support. That's why the BJP is shaken. They are doing propaganda against it," Gehlot said.
-With PTI Input
