The prevailing mood in the party is upbeat with its top leaders, including the former chief minister, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, declaring that the ruling Congress would face the worst-ever defeat. BJP gives only seven to eight seats to the Congress if one goes by its own internal poll assessment.

In the distribution of tickets, like the Congress, the party leadership faced a host of problems with the list of claimants going ever up. This was due to its bright poll prospects as predicted by pre-poll surveys. In deciding on the final names, the role played by Shekhawat was again pivotal as he continues to be its star leader in the state despite the humiliating defeat he suffered in the last assembly poll.

Contrary to reports, he is well in the fray and is touringthe entire state in support of party candidates. "We shall teach a lesson to the Congress at the hustings as the Gehlot government has failed on all fronts,", said the former chief minister.

The anti-incumbency factor is no doubt working against the ruling Congress as the general feeling is that the Gehlot government, despite claims, has not been able to deliver the goods. At the level of grass roots the government is perceived to be non-performing being no different compared to the one provided by Shekhawat.

The Jat factor will certainly cost the party sizeable votes as the demand of the Rajasthan Jat Mahasabha for reservation has yet to be accepted. Over a lakh of Jats had gathered here early this month voicing their demand for reservation and declaring that they would vote against the Congress if it was not accepted.

However the leading Congress leaders such as Nawal Kishore Sharma, Heeralal Devpura and Ashok Gehlot himself are of the view that the Jat factor would not be decisive in the final polloutcome. The chief minister said that his government's doings would bring the party votes as he had been able to provide a clean administration to the people in the last eight months.

Gehlot's claim is, however, being disputed even in impartial circles.

The Congress has fielded some heavyweights in the election against not-so-known BJP nominees. Prominent among its candidates are Balram Jhakar (Sikar), Sheeshram Ola (Jhunjhunu), Rajesh Pilot (Dausa), JN Pahadia (Bayana), Abrar Ahmed (Jhalawar), Girija Vyas (Udaipur), Buta Singh (Jalore) and PC Vishnoi (Jodhpur).

On the contrary, the BJP list is bereft of prominent personalities. Only two names single out in the list-Vasundera Raje and Raguveer Singh Kausahal. The BJP has fielded external affairs minister Jaswant Singh's son Manvender Singh while the Congress has fielded Jagat Singh, son of Natwar Singh. But both are considered weak candidates from Barmer and Bharatpur constituencies respectively.

Girija Vyas, who is contesting from Udaipur, is sureabout her own success at the hustings even though her rival is Shantilal Chaplot, former speaker of Vidhan Sabha, who had defeated her in the 1998 poll.