Jaipur, Oct 8 – The Congress party has named former minister Pramod Jain Bhaya as its candidate for the Anta Assembly seat by‑election in Rajasthan’s Baran district.
General secretary K.C. Venugopal announced the move on Wednesday, hoping the early choice will give the party a tactical edge over the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Bhaya, who finished second to BJP’s Kanwar Lal Meena in the 2023 state elections, will fight again after the seat became vacant last month. Meena, a staunch supporter of former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, was disqualified in May 2025 following a conviction in a 20‑year‑old case. Authorities found him guilty of pointing a pistol at a district sub‑collector during an official inspection.
The Anta constituency lists 227,563 registered voters, according to the latest roll published on October 1. Among them, 115,982 are male, 110,241 are female and 4 voters fall under the “other” category. The recent voter‑registration drive added 1,336 new names ahead of the by‑election.
Former chief minister and Congress stalwart Ashok Gehlot welcomed Bhaya’s nomination. “We’re confident that with the people’s support, Congress can win Anta by a wide margin,” Gehlot told reporters. “All party workers and leaders should be ready to leave no stone unturned in securing the victory.”
The coming weeks promise a hotly contested three‑way battle. BJP officials are still reviewing candidates, and they will announce their choice soon. Meanwhile, Naresh Meena has said he will enter the fray as an independent candidate, filing his nomination on October 14. His entry may split votes and make the contest closer than expected.
Inside the BJP, MP Damodar Agarwal has been named the election in‑charge for Anta. A core committee will soon shortlist players and submit the final list to the Central Election Committee for approval.
The Anta by‑election will be watched closely by all parties, as the result could signal shifting political currents in Rajasthan. With the Congress reclaiming a seat, BJP facing a potential defeat, and an independent candidate throwing a curveball, voters are poised for an intense showdown.
Source: ianslive
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