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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Karnataka bears pension burden as Centre contributes just 4 percent of Rs 11,000 crore: Report

19-05-2025 ¦ 19-05-2025 IST

Representational image (PTI)

Bengaluru: Karnataka has borne the overwhelming share of social security pension payouts in the last two fiscals, with the Union government contributing only a fraction—just 4% of the total Rs 11,831 crore spent—according to official data cited by Deccan Herald on Monday.

The minimal contribution by the Centre towards pension payments in Karnataka, Rs 564.44 crore in 2023-24 and 2024-25, came under scrutiny during a District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reportedly expressed strong displeasure at the Centre’s inaction on revising pension amounts.

“How can a government give just Rs 200 as pension in this day and age? The state government has revised the pension amount while the Centre hasn’t,” DH quoted Chief Minister’s Additional Chief Secretary L.K. Atheeq as saying.

The Union government’s pension amounts, unchanged since at least 2012, range between Rs 200 and Rs 500 per month under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension scheme, Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme, and the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme.

Meanwhile, Karnataka has significantly increased its contribution, paying between Rs 400-2,000 per month as its share under the three schemes.

In addition to raising pension amounts, the state has expanded the list of beneficiaries by easing the criteria. “For example, the Centre’s guidelines say that a person’s disability should be 75 percent or more in order to receive pensions. The state government has reduced the disability limit to 40 percent and above,” the news outlet quoted Atheeq as saying.

Currently, the Centre’s pension schemes cover 14.14 lakh beneficiaries in Karnataka. In contrast, the total number of beneficiaries under all state-funded pension schemes stands at 82.57 lakh.

Data also revealed a broader trend of underfunding. Between 2014 and 2024, Karnataka experienced a shortfall of Rs 25,926.93 crore under various centrally sponsored schemes due to the Centre not releasing its full share. The central government exceeded its committed contribution in only two financial years—2019–20 and 2023–24.