Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) Looking to Make Its Mark in Rajasthan Assembly Elections
The Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) is gearing up for its first venture beyond its home base in Haryana as it prepares to contest 20 seats in the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly elections. Led by Ajay Singh Chautala, the JJP is drawing from his experience as a two-time legislator in Rajasthan during his tenure with the Indian National Lok Dal. The party is also looking to carry forward the political legacy of former Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal, particularly in the Sikar parliamentary segment where three of its 20 candidates will run.
Although the JJP is an ally of the BJP in Haryana, it has decided to go it alone in the Rajasthan polls after the saffron party showed no interest in a joint venture. This decision comes amid recent tensions between the BJP and the JJP in Haryana, with speculation about the possibility of independent campaigns in the next Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. Despite this, both parties have yet to confirm their plans for the 2024 elections.
The JJP, which emerged after a division within the Indian National Lok Dal, threw its support behind the BJP after it fell short of a majority in the 2019 Haryana Assembly polls. The party’s secretary general, Digvijay Chautala, is confident in the JJP’s prospects, stating that regional outfits like theirs will be crucial in determining the outcome of the Rajasthan Assembly elections. He believes they have the potential to capture a significant number of seats, possibly influencing the formation of a government.
Prominent figures in the JJP, including Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala, have been actively supporting the party’s candidates in various constituencies such as Danta Ramgarh and Fatehpur. People are being reminded of the JJP’s achievements in Haryana, from improving the lives of farmers to launching initiatives in rural education and aviation. Digvijay Chautala emphasized the impact of regional parties on governance, particularly in remote areas which often get overlooked by major political parties.
The party’s decision to contest the Rajasthan polls independently was driven by the BJP’s lack of understanding of the JJP’s heritage and its supporters, according to Digvijay Chautala. He sees the JJP as carrying forward Chaudhary Devi Lal’s ideological commitment, which was instrumental in Bhairon Singh Shekhawat’s rise to power in Rajasthan in 1990. With the downfall of the BJP-JJP tie-up in Rajasthan, the Congress has been promoting a set of guarantees if it retains power in the State, aiming to secure a two-way contest that has persisted for the past few decades.
Heading into the November 25 polls, the JJP is betting on its candidates such as Rita Chaudhary in Sikar’s Danta Ramgarh and Prithviraj Meel in Suratgarh to make a significant impact. The party is leaving no stone unturned as it kicked off its campaigning with a rally in Sikar on September 25, coinciding with Chaudhary Devi Lal’s birth anniversary. With high hopes and a strong presence, the JJP is poised to make a notable impression on the Rajasthan Assembly elections, marking its expansion beyond Haryana.
