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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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action

06-05-2026 ¦ 06-05-2026 IST

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (PTI)

Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.

Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.

After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.

A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.

Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.

“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).

He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.

“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.

When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”

Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.

“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.

He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.

“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.

The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.

“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.

Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”

Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.

Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.

“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.

Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.