No state amongst the five going to poll in 2023 seems as chaotic as Rajasthan does. While the state has a trend of unseating the incumbent government every five years, the current CM Ashok Gehlot is trying hard to buck the trend and in preparation had introduced several welfare schemes including social security scheme, Indira Rasoi Yojna, Rs 25-lakh medical insurance, MGNREGA-like employment scheme for urban areas, cooking gas cylinders at Rs 500 for the Ujjawala scheme beneficiaries, amongst others. Like other Congress ruled states, he also reinstated Old Pension Scheme (OPS). His staunchest opposition comes not from BJP, but from his own party’s leader, Sachin Pilot.

Similarly, BJP is ridden with it’s own problems as the central leadership seem hard bent on sidelining its most popular and assertive leader, Vasundhara Raje; and has denied tickets to her loyalists. BJP central leadership seems to be counting on fielding MP(s) in Assembly elections as an alternate strategy and is looking to improve its popularity. However, it is undeniable that sidelining Raje without a projecting a popular face for the CM post will cost BJP dearly.