In Rajasthan's Jodhpur, 1,000 Pakistani immigrants cast votes as Indian citizens: Report

As voters cast their ballots in the Lok Sabha Elections Round 4, Rewaram Bheel and Govardhan Bheel can’t hide their excitement. After all, it’s for the first time that they will be able to exercise their franchise as Indian citizens. According to an HT report, the Bheels are among 1,000 Pakistani immigrants, who are making their voice heard through ballots in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur today. “We are among the lucky ones who have got Indian citizenship. There are hundreds of others waiting to become Indian citizens,” Govardhan Bheel was quoted as saying by HT. The report says that Jodhpur administration had given Indian citizenship to 1,000 Pakistani migrants in January this year.

The migrants are one of the major poll issues in Rajasthan. In fact, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also spoken about giving Hindu migrants citizenship during his rallies in western Rajasthan. However, the Congress had slammed the Prime Minister and blamed the BJP for using this tactic to garner votes. According to New Indian Express report, the Seemant Lok Sangathan, which raises the voice of Hindu migrants from Pakistan, said that there are some 35,000 people in Rajasthan who are in the queue for citizenship.

Nearly 13.82 lakh people in the 18-19 years age group, out of a total of 4.88 crore registered voters, will decide the fate of 249 candidates contesting on 25 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan. A maximum of 1.28 lakh voters in this age group are registered in Jaipur district followed by 67,961 voters in Nagaur, 65,492 in Jodhpur, 65,481 in Alwar, 58,737 in Sikar, 58,270 in Bhilwara and 57,831 voters in Udaipur, the state's Chief Electoral Office said. The districts with lowest number of young voters include  Pratapgarh (12,574 voters), Jhalawar (32,614 voters), Chittorgarh (33,780 voters) and Jalore (33,872 voters), it said. A total of 13 parliamentary constituencies of the state are polling today. Tonk-Swaimadhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran are the constituencies voting in the fourth phase of the general elections. Twelve Lok Sabha constituencies of the state -- Sriganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur, Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dhaulpur, Dausa and Nagaur -- will vote on May 6.

Key contests of 2019 Lok Sabha Elections Phase 4 in Rajasthan

1. Jhalawar-Baran (2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Dushyant Singh, Margin: 2,81,546)

2019 candidates: Dushyant Singh (BJP) Vs Pramod Sharma (Congress)

2. Jodhpur (2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Margin: 4,10,051)

2019 candidates: Vaibhav Gehlot (Congress) Vs Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (BJP)

3. Tonk-Sawai Madhopur (2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Sukhbir Singh Jaunpuria, Margin: 1,35,506)

2019 candidates: Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria (BJP) Vs Namo Narain Meena (Congress)

4. Barmer (2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Col. Sona Ram, Margin: 87,461)

2019 candidates: Manvendra Singh (Congress) Vs Kailash Choudhary (BJP)

5. Udaipur (2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Arjunlal Meena, Margin: 2,36,762)

2019 candidates: Arjunlal Meena (BJP) Vs Raghuveer Meena (Congress)