In Rajasthan, after the recent loss in the assembly polls, the Congress party has a reason to celebrate. A month ago, after the Congress was reduced to 69 seats, has recently increased its tally to 70 after winning the election for the Karanpur Assembly seat.The defeat of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Surendra Pal Singh has also come as a jolt to the party, which had inducted Singh into the Council of Ministers and made him a Minister of State (independent charge) on December 30. Singh lost to Congress candidate Rupinder Singh Kooner, who won by a margin of 11,284 votes.The Congress party had raised objections, citing a violation of the code of conduct, as Singh assumed ministerial charge while still being a candidate for the Assembly bypoll.The Assembly election had been adjourned following the death of Congress candidate and the then-sitting MLA Gurmeet Singh Kooner on November 15. Out of 200, only 199 seats went to the polls on November 25. To secure sympathy votes, after Gurmeet's passing, ten days before the polls, Congress fielded his son, Rupinder Singh.Congress' win in the Karanpur constituency not only gave party workers a reason to celebrate but also left them with hope, especially when Lok Sabha polls are three months away. Both Congress stalwarts Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot extended congratulations to Rupinder Singh Kooner.In a statement on Monday, Gehlot said, "The people of Srikaranpur have defeated the pride of the BJP. The public has taught a lesson to the BJP, which defied the code of conduct and morality by making its candidate a minister during the elections."Sachin Pilot posted on X, “Karanpur’s people have entrusted faith in the policies and ideology of Congress and ensured progress, security and a safe future for themselves”.Sources in the Congress party told Outlook, "While the victory in Karanpur is positive for the Congress party, it is a major setback for the first-time Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, as it was his first test".
Who will be the next LoP?
Interestingly, a month after the formation of the new government in Rajasthan, Congress is yet to name its Leader of the Opposition (LoP). Now what's to be seen is who will the grand old party give a chance to. Especially after the appointments of former CM Ashok Gehlot, to a national alliance committee and Tonk MLA Sachin Pilot, the former Deputy CM, as party general secretary in charge of Chhattisgarh, the fingers have started moving to other faces for the post of LoP. "The name of the LoP will be revealed by the party's high command and a few candidates have been shortlisted for the post. The LoP will be made before January 19, the commencement of the assembly session", Congress president Govind Singh Dotasara told media. The LoP could be either a tribal or a Gujjar leader as the party wants to strengthen its base after losing the recent polls. The two main contenders for the post are Ashok Chandana and Rita Chaudhary", a senior Congress leader told Outlook. The BJP in Rajasthan emerged victorious in the assembly elections by securing 115 seats out of 199, while the Congress claimed 69 seats and one in the bypolls taking the final tally to 70.
