Dausa Has Got An Expressway; It Now Awaits Water - Ground Report From Rajasthan

The Dausa Lok Sabha constituency, situated within Rajasthan, is designated as an ST category parliament seat among the 25 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.

Dausa is one end of the first stretch of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway (DME).

In February 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Sohna (Gurugram) to Dausa stretch of the DME, marking the beginning of the nation's longest expressway.

Additionally, Dausa is included in the 13 drought-affected districts set to benefit from the Eastern Rajasthan Canal project (ERCP), which has gained much political traction in the state’s election discourse.

To gauge the impact of these projects on political setup, along with the overall mood of the region, Swarajya visited the constituency, which presently includes eight legislative assembly segments — Bandikui, Lalsot, Sikrai, Dausa, Mahuwa in the Dausa district, along with parts of Jaipur District — Bassi and Chaksu, and Thanagazi in Alwar District.

Dausa votes in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, on 19 April.

Home to a substantial tribal population, Meena voters constitute approximately 25.9 per cent of Dausa district, as per the 2011 census, while Scheduled Caste (SC) voters make up about 21.1 per cent. The OBC population comprises the Gurjars and Mali (Saini).

Political History of Dausa

Historically a stronghold for the Congress party, which won ten successive elections on the seat since 1952, from the Congress it's the Pilot family that has represented Dausa for several of recent years. Congress leader Rajesh Pilot won the seat for the first time in 1984 and represented it from 1991 to 1999, while later his son, Sachin Pilot, bagged the seat in 2004.

However, the political dynamics shifted in 2009 when Dr Kirodilal Meena won as an independent candidate, followed by BJP victories in 2014 and 2019, with Jaskaur Meena currently serving as the MP.

For the upcoming elections, Kanhaiyalal Meena from the BJP, former Bassi MLA, and for Congress, Murali Lal Meena, Dausa, and MLA are the Lok Sabha candidates.

Congress candidate Murarilal Meena has won the assembly elections once from Bandikui and thrice from Dausa, while Kanhaiyalal Meena has also been MLA from Bassi four times. 

Additionally, student leader Naresh Meena has filed an independent candidature, though there are ongoing discussions regarding his candidacy, with many viewing the electoral competition primarily between the two major parties.

Rural voters make up about 88.6 per cent of the electorate in Dausa and are predominantly engaged in agriculture-related activities. However, the region's arid conditions highlight the need for water resources for further industrial and agriculture-related growth.

Over the last year, locals have acknowledged the convenience brought by the expressway for passenger and cargo transit but emphasised the need to resolve water scarcity issues, pinning their hopes on the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP).

Initiated during BJP rule under Vasundhara Raje's tenure, the ERCP aims to address drinking and irrigation water scarcity in the state, though its progress has been hindered by political controversies.

While the Congress accuses the Centre of withholding national status for the ERCP, the BJP alleges politicisation by the state ruling party, hindering constructive implementation.

Even so, the project gained momentum during the 2023 Assembly elections, with the change of power in Rajasthan, culminating in an MoU signed in January 2024 between Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti — for the modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal-ERCP Link project.

Water Situation In Bandikui And Lalsot

In Bandikui town, Jagdeesh Meena, working in the hospitality sector, tells Swarajya “The opening of the expressway has definitely provided ease of transport, and has brought our region on the map.”

“Kaafi fayda hua hai, Dausa, Dilli aur Jaipur ke beech mein stith hai, expressway aane baad kum se kum Bandikui mein tourism ke badaave ki umeed nazar aayi hai. Railway station to yaha pe hai, ab road se bhi bade sheher dur nahi. Lekin filhaal jo utrav hai, vo yaha se dur hai. Abhi baat chal rahi hai, ki ek utrav bandikui se 5 km dur bhi banega.”

“Jab logo ko fayda dikhega, tab log sarkaar ka saath aage bhi denge.”, he adds.

(Significant benefits have been seen. Dausa, is located between Delhi, and Jaipur, the expectation of increased tourism in Bandikui has emerged following the arrival of the expressway. The railway station is here, and now even large cities are not far by road. However, currently, the interchange is far from here. There are discussions underway to construct an interchange even 5 km away from Bandikui.)

Normally, the expressway is expected to open up opportunities for industries, however, being a dry region, water scarcity remains the major challenge for growth in the region.

“In rural Badiyal region of Bandikui, farmers are only able to cultivate mustard, which does not need much water, and is being managed by local tankers and the two months of rains,” says Pawan Bhajak, PhD candidate in social work, and is also state secretary of the ERCP Sanyukt Morcha.

The morcha, led by citizens, became active in 2021 from Bandikui, as ERCP remained entangled in political disputes, with the aim to unite all from Dausa and other districts that would be impacted.

Swarajya met Pushpa, a woman belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, who has to work on other’s farmlands along with several other women from her community.

She says, “Humein kaam karna padta hai dihaadi pe, humaari khudki zameen pe paani nahi hai. Humaara vote unke saath hai jo paani ki samasya hal karne ka vaada karega. Humaare pass tanker lane ke paise nahi hai. Dusro ke ghar se, jinke khet pe kaam karte hai, vaha se paani bharke leke jaate hai. Hum bhi morche mein shaamil huye, iss umeed mein ki sarkar humaari samasya ko sunegi par abhi tak sab sirf baatein hai.”

(We have to work on these fields, as we don't have water on our own land. Our vote is with those who promise to solve the water problem. We don't have money to hire tankers. We fetch water from others' homes. All of us joined the movement in the hope that the government will listen to our problems, but so far it's just talk.)

Pawan adds “People are waiting on the progress of the project, which can sway the political sentiments for any of the two parties. This is a huge project which cannot be done on the state level. If the centre announces it to be national-level project, all votes will go into their favour.”

Similarly, in Khurra Village of Lalsot, women continue to depend on a single water source — a well — for all households. According to the village sarpanch, although several wells exist in the village, they have all dried up over the years.

"Until last month, only one well within the village had water, but it too has dried up. Now, villagers walk 2 km to the outskirts of the village, near the farmlands, to fetch water day and night."

Rajeshwari Meena, an active social and political figure in the village, tells Swarajya, “Our farming only relies on rainfall in this area. All our ponds and wells are drying up, and the groundwater from borewells contains excessive fluoride, unsuitable for our needs.”

This reserve of water will also dry up in the next two months of dry heat, and then we have to arrange water tankers from the surrounding areas, to either fill up one or two wells,” she adds.

Rajeshwari and the women of this village, also participate in rallies under the Sanyukt Morcha, as they have realised the importance of the canal project, and wait for some considerable outcome from the elected government.

This has been the situation for most of the regions in this constituency, where water scarcity remains the paramount issue, making the ERCP project a decisive factor in elections.

Candidate’s Assembly Constituencies

In Bandikui

Back in the town's main market, discussions for this election revolve around the notion of nationwide development.

“Yeh jo vote hai, yeh Modi Ji ke naam hai. Candidate jo bhi ho, Modi factor ki leher hai Dausa mein. Saare kaam kaaj vale ka bharosa vahi pe hai. Expressway bhi nikaala gaya, ab ERCP ki samasya ki umeed hai.”, says Sushil Khandelwal who runs a clothes shop in the main market.

(This vote is for Modi Ji, whoever the candidate may be, the Modi factor holds sway in Dausa. People have trust, the expressway was built, and now, hopes are on resolving the ERCP issues.)

Another merchant from the town, Ram Kishor Saini, while focusing on the candidates, tells Swarajya, “Murari Lal Ji is Congress’ recurring choice. Vaha pe sabko parivaarvadd nazar aata hai. Humein naye chehre chahiye. Vo ab tak 4 baar MLA reh chuke hai, unki patni ko bhi har chunaav mein khada karte hai, par vo kabhi kamyaab nahi huye.”

“BJP sarkaar ne naye candidate ko chuna hai. Main yeh nahi kahunga ki abhi ke MP Jaskaur ji ne bhi bhaut kaam kiya, par ab ek naya chehara aage hai. Janta ko umeed hai ki aage bhi naye log aur youth ko mauka mile.”

(It's all about family connections there. We need new faces. He has been MLA four times already, and they even field his wife in every election, but they've never succeeded. The BJP has chosen a new candidate. I won't comment on the current MP, Jaskaur Ji, but the public hopes to see new faces and youth given opportunities.)

Meanwhile, sentiments appear to shift at the Adarsh colony, majorly inhabited by the Berwa community (SCs). Here, the focus is on local leaders who can provide more direct benefits to the community.  

“Murari Lal from Congress is known to everyone, he is a local candidate and, in this settlement, his image is good,” says Naresh Chand, who works with a private company in Bandikui.

“Many regional projects, specifically medical facilities, which are not available, remain stalled due to political power dynamics. We expect that after the election, those projects will be back on track.”

In Dausa

Nearly 40 km away from Bandikui, is the main town of Dausa, which is also the assembly of Congress candidate Murari Lal Meena.

A landmark in this area, situated in Nangal Pyariwas, is the Meena High Court, known as a platform for community-driven justice for the Meena’s. Its existence is rooted in an old case from the 1990s and holds historical significance for BJP's former Rajya Sabha MP, Kirori Lal Meena, and the unity of the Meena community. The place has attracted much attention from both parties over the years.

Right next to the Meena High Court, among a group of old and young individuals gathered in the evening, Ram Lal tells Swarajya, “This time, Kirori Lal Ji's brother did not receive a ticket from the BJP. The Meena community here is disappointed. People feel the government has not acknowledged all his efforts.”

However, countering this, another person Kamlesh, added, “This place has a fixed voting pattern every time. About 70 per cent of the votes go to the Congress, while 30 per cent go to the BJP. Even with Doctor Sahab (Kirori Lal Meena) in the picture, only 5 to 10 per cent of the votes might shift.”

At the city centre of Dausa town, people once again raised concerns about "parivarvaad" and stressed the importance of giving a chance to new people. “Unhe toh bus saare elections mein ghusna hai. Ab yaha pe bhi unka naam aa gaya.”, adds a government employee, speaking anonymously.

(They just want to be involved in all elections. Now, their name has cropped up here too.)

In Bassi

In contrast to the regions where there is a sense of anti-incumbency for the Congress candidate, the sentiment in Bassi, where BJP's Kanhiaya Lal Meena previously served as an MLA, is different.

“Bassi constituency has a large dominance of Maali and the Meena community, mostly engaged in service and merchant occupations. For them, even the expressway has been important,” says Chandramohan Sharma, who runs an electrical shop.

He is now looking forward to new spurts connecting Jaipur directly and further connections to Gujarat, viewing it as a chance for logistics and material supplies to their markets.

Adding to this, on voting choices, Dinesh Khandelwal says, "Our vote is for the progress of the nation. Now, interpret that signal yourself."

Wittingly, he continues, "When I tell this to people, they get agitated, thinking I support the BJP. I tell them, I'm talking about the progress of the nation; you mentioned the BJP."

“Main gramin kshetra ke youngsters ko dektha hu, vo humaare pass aate hai, humse investments aur banking seekhne. Yeh agar Digital India ka live example nahi hai, toh fir aur kya hai.”

(I see youngsters from rural areas coming to us to learn about investments and banking. If this isn't a live example of Digital India, then what is?)

However, upon hearing this, his friend Anand Sharma engages in a political banter with him, identifying himself and his family as Congress supporters. He argues that the current government is manipulating religious divisions and neglecting issues such as inflation and employment.

Yet for this election, they all plan to support their local leader as the Lok Sabha candidate, regardless of political leanings.

This report is part of Swarajya's 50 Ground Stories Project - an attempt to throw light on themes and topics that are often overlooked or looked down. You can support this initiative by sponsoring as little as Rs 2,999/-. Click here for more details.