Repeat performance of the 2003 poll success for the ruling BJP in Rajasthan's western districts seems far-fetched this time with key factors like delimitation, changing caste equations and voracious dissidents threatening to play spoilsort.

In the last assembly elections in 2003, BJP bagged five seats out of seven in the sand-dune clad desert districts of Barmer and Jaisalmer. However, two more seats have been created in the region after delimitation.

Minister of state for Home, Amraram Choudhary from Pachpadra and Leader of Opposition Hemaram Choudhary on Gudhmalani seat are facing tough contests this time, with caste and delimitation factors dominating the electioneering.

The going for Amraram gets tough as Congress rebel Parasmal Bhandari, with BJP roots, and a BSP candidate Bajrang Paliwal disturbing the caste equations on the seat. Congress' young turk Madan Prajapat is also banking on his caste votes.

Mustering on 'Vishnoi' votes, BJP's Laduram Vishnoi is all set to challenge the leader of Opposition as the Congress leader's jat vote counts decreased this time by over 15000 due to delimitation.

However, what could prove to be in his favour is the recent visit of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to the region that might help him get the muslim votes.

BJP's rebel Gangaram Choudhary can prove to be costly for the saffron party on Barmer city seat where it has fielded a woman candidate Mradurekha Choudhary against Congress' Mevaram Jain.

BJP's sitting MLA Jalam Singh Ravlot, who defeated Congress' Muslim face Ameen Khan from Shiv seat in the 2003 polls, is likely to face "caste music" as six other candidates in fray on the segment may dent into his vote-bank even as people from the dominant "Rajpurohit" caste are tilting in favour of the Congress.

On the newly created Baytu seat, witnessing a close contest between three-time Congress MP Colonel Sonaram and BJP' youth wing leader Kailash Choudhary, the caste polarisation will be a deciding factor.

After the delimitation process, the golden city of Jaislamer would be sending its two representatives to the state assembly with Pokharan being the new segment.

The newly-created seat will see the contest between RSS backed BJP candidate Shaitan Singh and a prominent Muslim cleric Gazi Fakeer's son Saleh Mohammed of the Congress party.

Rajput candidates have represented the Jaisalmer seat for ten times but this time apart from the caste factor rebels hold the key for the BJP and Congress candidates.