Video Producer: Fabeha Syed
Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam
Tonk constituency of Rajasthan will witness a contest between the BJP’s Yunus Khan and the Congress’ Sachin Pilot. The BJP has fielded just one Muslim candidate in the 2018 Rajasthan Assembly elections and he will be contesting against one of the tallest Congress leaders in the state.
Yunus Khan claims to have commissioned roads in 170 villages of the state, but for the youth of Tonk, the key issue is of development, or rather the lack of it.
“There has never been anything in the name of development here in Tonk. Be it the Congress or the BJP, none of the ruling parties ever did anything for Tonk’s development.”Local resident
“People here are looking for development. There are many issues like water, electricity, railways.”Local resident
Amid complaints by locals who insisted they want development in Tonk and not mere ‘lip service’ , there were also some voices which stood in support of the current BJP rule in the state.
In my opinion, the BJP did a lot of work here. Congress-supported contractors are the ones who made money through so-called development. When they could no longer fill their pockets, they started saying that the BJP didn’t work.Local resident
Please ask him (Congress supporter), in the last 56 years, has the Congress ever been able to develop a garden?Local resident
While there was a debate about the job opportunities in the constituency, those who were in support with BJP stood the ground about party’s efforts in beautifying the city.
They (BJP supporters) are talking about beautification (of the city), which doesn’t mean development. It won’t get our youth any jobs. It won’t help in waiving farm loans.Local resident
You can’t make just one garden and claim to have done development here in Tonk. They said they have made roads, but that work is still going on. Sewage work is also incomplete. In fact, its progress is not even 30 percent. I doubt they’ll be able to finish this work in their (BJP’s) remaining tenure.Local resident
However, the voters of Tonk agree that the BJP has fielded their only Muslim candidate in their constituency because he might be able to garner the Muslim votes. Those who support the Congress believe that Sachin Pilot is a regional leader who understands the area and will take responsibility for the people and the constituency.
Rajasthan goes to poll on 7 December and the results will be declared on 11 December 2018.
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