Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2018: Survey suggests Congress will win Rajasthan

Sachin Pilot leading CM face

Vartha Bharati | 01-11-2018 | 23:16:00 IST

New Delhi: Rajasthan is scheduled to go to the polls in a single phase Assembly Election on December 7 and counting of votes is slated to take place on December 11. Rajasthan has 200 Assembly seats. Times Now-CNX Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2018 pre-poll survey was conducted in 67 constituencies. In each constituency, 120 samples were used. 8,040 respondents (4,250 males and 3,790 females) participated in the survey.

When asked to assess the work done by the MLA in their constituency in the last five years, 43.27 per cent of the respondents said they were not satisfied. While 40.7 per cent of the respondents expressed satisfaction, 16.03 per cent said they had no opinion regarding this. It means that incumbency is a decisive factor in this election.

To the question - which is the most important consideration in the upcoming elections, the majority of the respondents opted for 'candidate'. While 35 per cent respondents answered that candidate in their constituency was the most important thing to be considered, 26.63 per cent mentioned that for them, the key factor is the chief ministerial candidate. This infers that performance, not personalities or party loyalty is influencing the voters.

Thirty-five per cent survey respondents mentioned employment as the biggest issue in the upcoming state elections, while 27 per cent said development was the key issue. Rafale deal row was named as the biggest issue by only one per cent participants.

How would you rate Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's performance? 48 per cent respondents called it 'poor'. 35 per cent rated her performance as 'Good', 12 per cent 'Average', 5 per cent 'Can't Say'.

Sixty-five per cent participants expressed dissatisfaction over the way the Rajasthan government led by Vasundhara Raje handled the Padmavati controversy. When asked about gangster Anand Pal Singh's encounter, 55.7 per cent said they were dissatisfied. This shows that protecting fringe and imperious disregard for the rule of law hurt the image of Raje.

Who performed better as CM of Rajasthan? With 30.82 per cent respondents speaking out in favour, senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot surpassed Vasundhara Raje (25.25 per cent).

In what should ring an alarm bell for the BJP, 45 per cent respondents said the Bharat Vahini Party (BVP), which was formed by former BJP leader Ghanshyam Tiwari earlier this year due to a rift with CM Raje, will hurt the party the most.

When asked who should be the next Rajasthan CM, Sachin Pilot emerged as an alternative to Vasundhara Raje.

Which government performed better - Central government or State government? 63 per cent voted for Modi government. This indicates that people in Rajasthan will vote for the BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha contest because of Brand Modi.

Fifty-three per cent expressed full satisfaction as far as Narendra Modi's performance as PM is concerned. In fact, when asked who should be the country's next PM - Rahul Gandhi or PM Narendra Modi, 69 per cent opted Narendra Modi.

Rajasthan Assembly polls: Seat prediction

SC seats: Times Now-CNX survey predicts the BJP will win 15 seats (2013 - 31) and Congress 17 (2013 -0)

ST seats: BJP - 13 (2013 - 18), Congress 11 (2013 - 4)

While the BJP is set to lose SC/ST seats, it could retain some if the BSP hurts Congress.

Urban areas: BJP - 12 (2013 - 18), Congress - 7 (2013 - 1)

Rural areas: BJP- 30 (2013 - 55), Congress - 38 (2013 - 10)

RURAL + URBAN (110 seats): BJP - 33 (2013 - 91), Congress - 70 (2013 - 10)

In urban areas, by and large voters will hit on lotus button. Lack of jobs, GST are clearly hurting the BJP.

Rajasthan polls: Region-wise vote share

Hadoti region (consists of cities like Kota, Baran, Bundi, Jhalawar): BJP - 25 (2013 numbers - 48); Congress - 35 (2013 numbers 09)

Marwar region (Jodhpur belt – key cities are Barmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Jalore): BJP – 17 (2013 – 47); Congress - 36 (2013 - 05)

Mewar - 64 seats (Main cities Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Udaipur and Rajsamand): BJP - 27 (2013 - 59); Congress - 36 (2013 - 04)

Shekhawati – 16 seats (consists of Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, Sikar and Nagaur): BJP - 06 (2013 - 09); Congress - 08 (2013 - 03)

Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2018: Times Now-CNX Survey

Rajasthan Assembly Election 2018: Poll of polls

Times Now-CNX Survey Implications:

1. Congress will take the sting out of BJP's 'Congress-mukt Bharat' slogan.

2. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's stature as an alternative to PM Narendra Modi will get a boost.

3. Grand Alliance prospects with Congress as fulcrum brightens.

4. PM Modi's aura of invincibility will receive a jolt ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

5. The survey indicates that voters are weighing performance over personality.

Courtesy: www.timesnownews.com

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IPL final shifted for bigger stadium, not ticket issue: Shivakumar

06-05-2026 ¦ 06-05-2026 IST

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar (PTI)

Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday rubbished allegations that the IPL final venue was shifted from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad due to the distribution of tickets to MLAs.

Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar said the reason for the shift could be the availability of a larger stadium in Ahmedabad.

“Ahmedabad has a large stadium and can accommodate more spectators. That must be the reason the IPL final was shifted there. There is no connection between ticket distribution to MLAs and the venue change,” he said.

When asked about reports linking the venue shift to MLAs demanding tickets, he quipped, “In some places, 50 per cent of tickets are reserved.”

When reporters said the BCCI had indicated that the decision was linked to ticket issues, he responded, “Let them make such statements. I will respond appropriately.”

Bengaluru was originally expected to host the final as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru were the defending champions.

Ahmedabad will host the IPL final for a second successive season on May 31, the BCCI announced earlier in the day, while allotting Qualifier 1 to Dharamsala and two other playoff games to New Chandigarh.

The board, however, said the final venue was shifted “owing to certain requirements from the local association and authorities that were beyond the scope of BCCI’s established guidelines and protocols.”

Shivakumar declined to comment on the revocation of the suspension of Muslim leaders in Davanagere, saying it was a party decision.

Regarding the removal of MLC Naseer Ahmed as CM Siddaramaiah’s political secretary, he said the chief minister had already spoken on the matter.

“The CM has his own information. Party office-bearers have provided guidance. He was given certain responsibilities, which he did not handle properly, which is why he was removed,” Shivakumar said.

On MLC Abdul Jabbar, who resigned as the state Congress minority cell chief and was later expelled from the party, he said Jabbar had submitted his resignation, which the party accepted.

The Congress in Karnataka faced internal dissent in April when several Muslim leaders objected to the party fielding Samarth Shamanur as its candidate for the recently held Davanagere South Assembly bypoll.

They demanded that a Muslim candidate be fielded, citing the constituency’s substantial Muslim population. The party subsequently took disciplinary action against three leaders, including Jabbar and MLC Ahmed.

When asked about his and the CM’s visit to Delhi, he said, “We will go when the high command calls us. It is not appropriate to go without being called.”

On Congress supporting TVK in Tamil Nadu, Shivakumar said the decision was taken to keep the "BJP out of power and strengthen secular forces." Elections to the 234 Assembly constituencies were held on April 23, and the results were announced on May 4.

The Congress party, a long-time ally of the DMK, announced its support for TVK to form a government in Tamil Nadu and severed ties with the Dravidian major.

The incumbent DMK was trounced by the fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, led by Vijay, who secured 108 seats. “Despite pressure from the AIADMK and BJP, TVK did not align with them. Our party has taken this decision in the interest of secular forces and the welfare of Tamil Nadu,” Shivakumar said.