Mewar becomes significant poll battle in Rajasthan

Political parties are leaving no stone unturned in the tribal region of southern Rajasthan as it is said whoever wins Mewar will rule the state.

In this region of Mewar and Wagar, which comprises 28 assembly constituencies, the ruling Congress is capitalising on its various welfare schemes whereas the Bharatiya Janata Party is trying hard to bring the voters to its fold.

Politicians consider this region a key battle ground and believe that the party which wins the majority of seats here will form the next government. This is why no party can ill afford to ignore the significance of this region adjacent to Gujarat.

Leaders such as Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Vice President Rahul Gandhi, BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and others are visiting the tribal belt to address people.

"Mewar Sarkar Banata hai, (Mewar makes a government)," says Gulabchand Kataria, Leader of Opposition and a BJP stalwart. "We (BJP) won 22 out of total 28 seats in 2003 and the party was comfortably able to form the government. Last time, the Congress got majority of the seats but this time we will reverse this tally and win most of the constituencies, and will form the government," he claimed at a public meeting.

A six-time Member of Legislative Assembly, Kataria lambasted Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government which he said has lost ground for ignoring the region.

"In the last five years, the government made budgetary provision of only Rs 1,973 crore for Mewar, this share should have been around Rs 22,000 crore (in five years). This government has ignored Mewar now it will go (lost)," he said.

Udaipur Member of Parliament and Congress leader Raghuveer Singh Meena also acknowledged the importance of the Mewar region, which is better known as the land of historic valiant Rajput rulers such as Maharana Pratap.

"A party getting mandate on majority of seats in the region remains comfortable towards government formation. None can overlook the importance of this region," he told PTI.

Meena while rejecting the opposition's allegations expresses confidence that the party would more or less hold its position in Mewar and would retain power.