The Congress on Saturday claimed that this time the revolving door tradition would change in Rajasthan as people were rejecting the "politics of polarization" and voting for the party's achievements and guarantees.
Polling began Saturday morning for the 199 assembly seats in Rajasthan where the BJP is going all out to wrest power from the Congress which hopes to beat the state's anti-incumbency tradition.
In a post in Hindi on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Savings, relief, growth and dreams flying high, people benefiting from welfare schemes will choose only Rajasthan!" The aware people of Rajasthan know that their valuable vote is the guarantee of their happiness, he said, adding the people of Rajasthan, the land of great heroes and symbol of social unity, are requested to exercise their franchise.
"Make sure that there are no obstacles in your improving life. It is an appeal to young friends and first-time voters to cast their vote. Choose social security, choose economic empowerment, choose only the guarantee of prosperity and development," Kharge said.
In a post on X, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, "Rajasthan will choose free treatment. Rajasthan will choose cheaper gas cylinders. Rajasthan will choose interest-free agricultural loan. Rajasthan will choose English education. Rajasthan will choose OPS. Rajasthan will choose caste census." "Today, go out in large numbers and exercise your franchise. Elect a Congress government of guarantees and one that is beneficial to the people," he said.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said voting continues in Rajasthan and "today the people of Rajasthan will reject the Prime Minister's lie scheme and will make the Modi government understand that there is a limit to the misuse of ED and CBI".
This time the tradition is going to change in Rajasthan, he said referring to the revolving door trend in the state.
"People are rejecting the politics of polarization and voting for the achievements and guarantees of Congress," Ramesh said, adding the trust remains intact.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also urged the people of Rajasthan to cast their ballot. "Your every vote, for a beautiful future, for rights, for Congress' guarantee." Priyanka Gandhi also listed the promises of the Congress such as free treatment of up to Rs 50 lakh, Rs 10,000 annually for female head of family, gas cylinder for Rs 400, legal guarantee of old pension, 10 lakh new jobs, right to housing, buying cow dung at Rs 2 per kg, MSP to farmers, loan of Rs 2 lakh without interest, laptop for college students, free education even in private schools and caste census.
Congress general secretary organisation K C Venugopal appealed to the voters of the state to come out in record numbers and vote for a progressive, prosperous and inclusive Rajasthan.
"You have seen five years of exemplary governance, with welfare programmes that have changed the face of Rajasthan and given a safe and secure environment for everyone. The Chiranjeevi Scheme, mobile phones to women, Indira Rasoi and many such pro-poor schemes have made a meaningful impact," he said in a post on X.
"You also remember a dark period of the BJP's misrule and corruption, where day-to-day life was tough and their leaders were busy pitting one community against the other and looting the state's coffers," he said.
"When we return to power, we will fulfil the seven Guarantees made during the campaign. We did it in Karnataka, we will do it in Rajasthan as well!" Venugopal said.
The time has now come to break this cycle of interrupting a people-centric government with that of the BJP and vote for five more years of Congress, he added.
While the ruling Congress is hoping that it will retain power in Rajasthan, the opposition BJP is eyeing a return in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year.
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