While all eyes are on Bihar, Anta by-election heats up politics in Rajasthan

As the country’s political gaze remains fixed on the high-stakes Bihar assembly election, a parallel storm is quietly brewing in Rajasthan’s Baran district, where the Anta Assembly by-election is turning into a hotbed of political drama, local aspirations, and caste equations.

Scheduled for voting on November 11 and results on November 14, the Anta bypoll may not change the government’s numbers, but its outcome will be closely watched for what it signals about public sentiment, particularly in a politically sensitive region of eastern Rajasthan.

Naresh Meena to enter the fray

Adding fuel to the fire is Naresh Meena, who has stirred excitement and uncertainty by announcing his intention to contest from Anta. He is expected to file his nomination on October 14.

Meena has been lobbying for a Congress ticket, but has made it clear that he will contest even as an independent candidate if the party does not accommodate him. His assertive stance could disrupt traditional equations for both Congress and BJP, making the contest more unpredictable.

Will Congress field old hand Bhaya ?

Traditionally, Congress has fielded senior leader and former minister Pramod Jain Bhaya from the Anta seat. Bhaya has had a long electoral history here, having contested multiple times , both as a Congress candidate and an independent.

However, with Naresh Meena's open declaration, Congress faces internal tensions, potentially leading to a split in its vote base.

Will BJP field Prabhulal Saini again?

On the BJP side, things are at the discussion stage right now. There is a strong speculation in the area Prabhulal Saini, former agriculture minister and two-time candidate from Anta, could be the frontrunner.

Saini won the seat in 2013, defeating Pramod Bhaya by 3,399 votes, and went on to serve in the Vasundhara Raje cabinet. However, he lost in 2018 to Bhaya by a margin of around 35,000 votes, casting doubt over his winnability.

However, if grapevine is to be believed, Anta Pradhan Prakhar Kaushal, grandson of former minister and MP Raghuveer Singh Kaushal may also be considered by the party.

Caste equation

Anta’s electoral landscape is deeply influenced by caste dynamics. The constituency has a significant Mali community population which is about 30,000 voters followed by 20,000 Meena voters, 25,000 SC voters, and substantial numbers from Dhakad and Muslim communities.