New Delhi, Nov 20(India Today): After the Congress decided to field Rajput leader Manvendra Singh against sitting Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, the BJP, has now fielded the party's Muslim face Yoonus Khan against Congress heavyweight Sachin Pilot from Tonk.
In what clearly has been a last minute change of strategy for the BJP, the party has decided to replace Ajit Singh Mehta, BJP's sitting MLA from Tonk district, to give the ticket to Yoonus Khan.
Khan is considered a close confidante of Vasundhara Raje and the second in command in the Rajasthan government. He is also the sitting MLA from Deedwana, a constituency from where he wanted to re-contest the upcoming assembly elections.
Mehta was given the ticket in the first list itself, however, with the Congress deciding to field Sachin Pilot from Tonk, the BJP removed him to go for Yoonus Khan from Tonk, a constituency with a sizeable Muslim population.
Khan is the only Muslim candidate BJP has fielded for the upcoming assembly elections in Rajasthan. Apart from Mehta, the BJP has also dropped Shankarlal Kharadi's name who was earlier given a ticket from Kherwara seat.
"The BJP may launch whosoever from here. But the people have decided that they want the Congress to win," Sachin Pilot said in reaction to the alteration.
Both Pilot and Khan filed their respective nominations from Tonk assembly constituency on Monday.
Earlier, there was much speculation about Gehlot and Pilot contesting the assembly elections in Rajasthan.
It was being said that the senior leadership of the Congress was not in favour of either Sachin Pilot or Ashok Gehlot contesting the upcoming assembly elections. However, the matter was put to rest after it was declared that both will be contesting.
"On the orders of Rahul Gandhi and request of Ashok Gehlot, I have decided to contest the upcoming assembly elections," Pilot said.
Pilot, while speaking to India Today TV, claimed that BJP deserves to be booted out, claiming that practical, implementable promises will be announced and the Congress will deliver them on the ground.
"I can't predict numbers but I can tell you that with five years of work and our leaders' contribution to make the party strong, we will get a historic mandate," Pilot said in an interview with India Today TV.
Assembly elections in Rajasthan are due on December 7 while the results will be declared on December 11.