BJP Faces Setback in Anta By-Election; Rajasthan Leaders Silent, Madan Rathore Accepts Responsibility

Baran, Rajasthan: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is reeling from its defeat in the Anta assembly by-election, leaving a tense silence among senior party leaders. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who campaigned extensively in Anta, have so far remained silent on the party’s disappointing performance, even as they celebrated the resounding BJP victory in Bihar on social media.

The Anta by-election saw BJP candidate Morpall Suman lose to the Congress, marking a setback for the party at the organizational level. State BJP president Madan Rathore has taken full responsibility for the defeat, stating, “This is our accountability. We must respect the mandate of the people. The government could not successfully communicate its development work to the public.”

Despite holding power in the state for the past two years, the Bhajanlal government failed to win the hearts of Anta voters. CM Bhajanlal and Vasundhara Raje had conducted roadshows in Anta town and Mangrol, highlighting governance and development achievements. Bhajanlal had emphasized, “This is a five-year versus two-year contest. Development will prevail over corruption in Anta.” However, these assurances did not sway the electorate.

Former CM Vasundhara Raje remained actively involved throughout the campaign, camping in the constituency for five days and holding back-to-back meetings across 268 booths in six mandals. She also engaged with various community representatives and expressed gratitude to voters via social media until polling day. Yet, despite her efforts, the party’s candidate lost, and Raje has not issued any statement regarding the election outcome, leaving party workers awaiting guidance.

The Anta by-election outcome underscores the challenges BJP faces in local constituencies, highlighting that extensive campaigning and political stature alone do not guarantee electoral success.

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