Posters featuring moustaches appeared across the Khimsar constituency following the BJP’s victory in the recent assembly by-polls. The moustache, a symbol of masculinity and respect in Indian culture, has now become an emblem of electoral triumph in Rajasthan.
The symbolic posters were prominently displayed in several areas, including outside the residence of state health minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar in Jaipur’s Civil Lines area, as part of the celebrations for the BJP’s win.
A Campaign Promise Linked to Moustache
During the campaign, minister Khimsar had declared he would shave off his moustache if BJP candidate Revant Ram Danga lost the election. With the BJP securing a significant victory, Khimsar expressed gratitude to voters, remarking, “I am thankful to the voters that they respected my vow. My family and I have been serving them and will continue to do so.”
Significant Win in a Challenging Constituency
The by-polls in the Jat-dominated Khimsar constituency, part of Nagaur district, saw BJP’s Danga defeat Kanika Beniwal of the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) by a margin of 13,901 votes. This victory is considered a major achievement for the BJP, as Khimsar has traditionally been an RLP stronghold.
Kanika Beniwal, the wife of RLP founder and prominent leader Hanuman Beniwal, contested the election after her husband’s party established dominance in the region during the 2018 assembly elections.
Political Dynamics of Khimsar
Hanuman Beniwal previously won the Khimsar seat in 2008 as a BJP candidate and as an Independent in 2013. He later formed the RLP and secured the seat again in 2018. The alliance with the BJP helped him win the Nagaur Lok Sabha seat in 2019, after which his brother Narayan Beniwal claimed victory in subsequent Khimsar by-polls.
The BJP’s recent win in Khimsar underscores a strategic breakthrough in an area dominated by Beniwal’s influence.
Victory Celebrations and Political Significance
The election’s outcome has not only been a matter of personal prestige for Khimsar but also a testament to the BJP’s ability to challenge RLP dominance in the region. The moustache posters, symbolizing both personal and political victory, mark a unique celebration in Rajasthan’s political landscape.