The two main political parties, BJP and Congress have fastened their seat belts ahead of the by-elections. But the third front has not been able to field candidates on all the seven seats where the by-elections are to be held. Recently, BAP MP Rajkumar Roat announced plans to form a third front in Rajasthan, but the situation on the ground tells a different story. In the upcoming assembly by-elections for seven seats in the state, the party is only fielding candidates for three of those seats. This raises questions about why Rajkumar Roat, who makes bold claims, could not secure representatives for all seven constituencies or if no candidates from his party are willing to run.
Rajkumar Roat, the leading figure of the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP), represents the Dungarpur-Banswara constituency. BAP is active in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Jharkhand, having won a total of four seats in the 2023 assembly elections—three in Rajasthan and one in Madhya Pradesh. Roat secured his position as a Lok Sabha MP from Dungarpur-Banswara, winning in a constituency with 84 seats.
Hanuman Beniwal also dreamed of a similar third front in the assembly elections 2023, but from then, till now, Rajasthan assembly by-election 2024, the talk of third front is not visible anywhere on the ground. In the recently held Rajasthan assembly by-election, the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party has also not been able to declare its representatives on seven assembly seats. In the Rajasthan by-election, Beniwal has made his wife a candidate from only one seat, Khinvsar. Rashtriya Loktantrik Party is a registered and state level recognised political party founded by Hanuman Beniwal, the current member of Nagaur parliamentary constituency of Rajasthan, on October 29, 2018.
Talking about Bahujan Samajwadi Party, state president Bhagwan Singh Baba said that he has suggested the names of the representatives from his side but the final decision on this will be taken by Mayawati. He said that he is working at the grassroots level in the interest of the party and his workers are full of enthusiasm.
“If our candidate is fielded from any seat, then our workers will support that candidate with full enthusiasm and hard work”, said Baba.
Aam Aadmi Party’s state president Naveen Paliwal stated that his party is not fielding any of its representatives in the Rajasthan assembly by-elections. Paliwal said that Aam Aadmi Party’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal has instructed him to perform well in the upcoming civic elections.
“Therefore, right now we are preparing keeping only the civic elections in mind”, said Paliwal.
Both Rajasthan MPs, Rajkumar Roat and Hanuman Beniwal, have been vocal about their intentions to establish a third front in the state. However, reality has showcased a different scenario. is clear. The two parties combined are unable to field candidates for all seven assembly seats in the upcoming by-elections. This raises questions about the feasibility of forming a third front in Rajasthan, prompting reflection for other regional parties with similar ambitions. In addition to these two parties, the Bahujan Samajwadi Party, Aam Aadmi Party, and several smaller parties appear to be absent from the Rajasthan Assembly by-elections in 2024.