Bikaner : Only 24 hours left for nominations, yet Congress and BJP keep their cards close to their chests!

Bikaner. The countdown to filing nominations for the municipal corporation elections has begun. With barely 24 hours left for candidates to file their papers, both the Congress and the BJP—eyeing control of the Bikaner Municipal Corporation—have yet to release their lists of official candidates. Rounds of meetings are ongoing within both parties, and the aspirants are anxious. The big question remains: is the list not ready, or is it ready but the parties lack the courage to release it?

In reality, both parties fear the rebellion that follows the denial of tickets more than the distribution process itself. Consequently, final decisions regarding wards with two or more strong contenders are being made with extreme caution.

BJP: 15 Wards Cause Concern – About 15 wards remain a headache for the BJP leadership. Ward 75 is the most talked-about among them; the situation regarding the ticket there is so complex that everyone, from local leaders to senior office-bearers, is keeping a close watch. A local MLA is reportedly displeased with the prospect of a specific candidate being fielded.

Apart from Ward 75, there is reportedly infighting among aspirants in about a dozen other wards. The challenge for the party is to ensure that finalizing one name does not drive another contender to rebel. In other words, the real question for the BJP is not just "whom to give the ticket to?" but rather, "whom can we give the ticket to without the others getting angry enough to sit at home or enter the fray as rebels?"

Congress: Complex Calculations in 30 Wards – The situation within the Congress is equally intriguing. Deliberations are still underway regarding candidates for about 30 wards. In many places, there is a high number of aspirants, while in others, local political dynamics are altering the ticket-allocation arithmetic.

All eyes are particularly fixed on Wards 73 and 74. The Congress is reportedly facing a major dilemma regarding ticket allocation in both these wards. Meanwhile, Wards 2 and 58 remain particularly tricky for the party. Apart from these, final deliberations regarding candidates are underway for about two dozen other wards. The Congress leadership is not only looking for "winnable" faces but is also ensuring that aspirants who miss out on tickets do not turn against the party during the election.

The "one ticket, multiple aspirants" scenario has heightened anxiety; both parties are currently most uneasy about wards where several contenders are pulling out all the stops to secure a single ticket. The day is filled with rounds of visits to party leaders' homes and offices, constant phone calls, and attempts to exert pressure through supporters. Aspirants are keeping a close watch not just on the party list, but also on who gets dropped or added at the last minute.

The real game begins once the list is out!

Political observers believe the true nature of the municipal election will only emerge after the tickets are announced. Aspirants who currently appear united in seeking the party ticket may change their stance once the list is released. If someone secures a ticket, supporters will celebrate; conversely, if someone is denied, voices of dissent could be heard everywhere from party offices to the electoral battlefield. For this reason, both parties are engaged in damage control right up to the last moment.

The full picture will emerge within 24 hours—the deadline for filing nominations is fast approaching. Consequently, both Congress and BJP must now reveal their hands. The issue is not merely about the list of candidates; the real question is how many aspirants will stand by the party and how many will enter the fray as rebels once the list is made public.

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