Poll positions change as many withdraw from race

JAIPUR: A total of 490 candidates across the state withdrew their nomination on Thursday, the last day for doing so. Congress rebel Rameshwar Dadhich, who had garnered attention for contesting in Jodhpur's Soorsagar constituency, withdrew his nomination. Former MLA from Badi Sadri, Prakash Chaudhary, also chose to pull out. Another Congress rebel, Kumbh Singh, who had been vying for Phalodi constituency, also withdrew his candidacy.
Now 1,875 candidates remain in the electoral fray. Jhotawara has the highest number of contestants at 18, followed by Rajgarh, Laxmangarh, and Pushkar with 17 each. The lowest number, 3, will be contesting in Lalsot.
Shailendra Yadav withdrew his nomination from Jhalrapatan, and so did Girish Pareek from Hawa Mahal. A BSP candidate from Sanganer withdrew nomination and put up a show of support for Congress candidate Pushpendra Bhardwaj.
The RLP candidate in Bikaner, Abdul Majid Khokhar, withdrew his nomination to endorse Congress's BD Kalla. Khokhar said, "The chief minister called and requested me not to contest."
Hemant Bhati from Ajmer South and Brahmadev Kumawat from Masuda also withdrew their nominations. Independent candidate Jitendra Singh Banevada withdrew his nomination and pledged support to the candidate of the Rashtriya Jan Shaurya Party. Party president Bhanwar Singh Palara welcomed Singh by garlanding him.
Another withdrawal was that of RLP's candidate in Sardarshahr, Lalchand Mund. Mund arrived at the election office and extended his support to independent candidate Rajkaran Choudhary. In Alwar's Kishangarhbas, independents Rinku Kumar and Shersingh Chaudhary withdrew their nomination.