JAIPUR: Just ahead of Rajasthan assembly elections 2018, the BJP on Monday fielded its only Muslim candidate Yunus Khan to contest against Congress state unit chief and Chief Minister candidate Sachin Pilot from Tonk Assembly constituency.
Khan replaced Ajit Singh on the final day of filing of nomination for the December 7 elections. He is also the only Muslim candidate fielded by the Bharatiya Janata Party while Congress has 15 Muslim candidates.
Khan has been a Public Work Department Minister in the Vasundhara Raje government. His supporters had protested at the BJP office when he did not get a ticket from Deedwana in the initial list. However, Khan had said that he would serve the party anyhow.
Muslim-dominated Tonk Assembly constituency hit the headlines immediately after the party gave Singh, the sitting MLA, a ticket.
Mass resinations were sent to BJP’s state unit chief Madanlal Saini. Workers expressed their anguish at Singh’s nomination who according to them lacked leadership qualities.
The counting of votes will be on December 11.