BJP fields convict’s spouse for bypoll in Rajasthan

Yash Goyal

Jaipur, March 15

The BJP on Wednesday fielded a convict’s spouse for Dholpur Assembly bypoll slated for April 9.      

 in presence of party president Ashok Parnami at Dholpur collector office.

Shobharani had joined the BJP a month ago.

Filing of nomination papers began yesterday, but as of today only Shobharani has filed the papers.

On Tuesday, two ministers RS Rathore and Kalicharan Saraf held a meeting proposing unanimously Shobharani’s name as the official candidate.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot said the party has worked on two or three names for this bypoll and the party high command would release the name in a day or so as the last date of filing nomination is March 21.

However there is a strong rumour that former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s son Vaibhav Gehlot might be fielded in the bypoll as the Mali community dominates the constituency, a close source said. 

Bahujan Samaj Party’s national incharge Dharamsingh Ashok is in Lucknow to finalise a name for this bypoll, Mukesh Kumar, state office incharge, said. 

Dholpur Assembly seat has been lying vacant since December 8, 2016, when Shobharani’s husband and former BSP MLA Kushwaha was sentenced to life imprisonment for criminal conspiracy in the murder.

Dholpur is home district of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and has become a prestige issue since Kushwaha was elected on BSP ticket in 2013 Assembly polls.