First-timers

Rajasthan BJP president Bhanwar Lal Sharma, who had opted out of the battle due to old-age, has been replaced by a raw party worker, Surendra Parik, in the Hawa Mahal constituency. In the adjacent Jaipur rural seat, a new candidate, Gopal Mali, has been fielded in place of veteran leader Ujla Arora. Gopal Gehlot will make a debut against Devi Singh Bhati from Kolayat.

The party has also picked up nine new women candidates8212; Raj Kumar Khandelwal Sikar, Raj Kumar Sharma Jamwa Ramgarh, Sheel Dhabhai Kotputli Pushpa Gupta Alwar, Anita Singh Nagar, Suman Bilya Bundi, Sneh lata Dug, Kirti Kumari Mandalgarh and Usha Punia Mundwa. Kirti Kumari will take on former chief minister Shiv Charan Mathur in Mandalgarh.

Apart from experimenting with fresh faces, the BJP has further given a mix of all communities: about two dozen tickets have so far gone to Jats, whom the BJP is trying to wean from the Congress.

However, two high-profile fresh arrivals to the BJP have been left stranded 8212; former Union minister Jagdeep Dhankar and Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat8217;s nephew Pratap Singh Khachariawas. The duo may still hope for a seat as the party is yet to name its candidates for 18 of the 200 seats.

Meanwhile, two detractors of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat 8212; Ganga Ram for Chohtan and Vishnu Modi from Masooda 8212; have got tickets.