Can Ashok Gehlot lead the Congress to a historic comeback in Rajasthan?

Minutes after Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s cavalcade left for Jaipur, the rural audience that had gathered to listen to him in Chomu, 40 km north of the state capital, scrambled to board buses and jeeps.

Among them were the women of Morija village. The long wait for the chief minister under the still sharp late September sun had worn them out. But they were not complaining as they took their seats in a bus.

“His work has been very good,” explained Mani Devi, in her late fifties, fanning herself with a leaflet featuring a smiling Gehlot. “He gives money to tackle illnesses, he gives medicines” – references to the Congress government’s flagship health schemes – “he gives rations, he gives pensions…”

“He’s even made electricity free,” a younger woman chimed in, referring to the state government’s recent provisioning of 100 units of free electricity for every household.

This provoked a sharp reaction from across the aisle. “My electricity bill has actually been ballooned this time to Rs 4,000,” Vidya Devi said, sounding rather irate. “And the food kits he is giving,” a reference to a new scheme that began in August – “the mirchi, dhaniya, haldi, all have artificial colour in them.”

Murmurs of agreement rippled through...

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