Congress Slams BJP for Stalling Rajasthan Local Polls

Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee president Govind Singh Dotasra accused the BJP-led state government of deliberately delaying local body and panchayat elections, labeling it a direct violation of constitutional provisions and court orders. Speaking at the "Swaraj Bachao Rally" organized by the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Organisation in Jaipur, Dotasra highlighted the government’s failure to hold timely elections for nearly 11,000 gram panchayats and 125 municipal bodies whose tenures ended about a year ago.

Dotasra criticized the BJP for undermining local governance under the pretext of delimitation and the 'One Nation, One Election' slogan, which he called a tactic to weaken democratic institutions. “The BJP government is attacking constitutional provisions by postponing panchayat and municipal polls,” he said, pointing to a recent Rajasthan High Court ruling that rebuked the state for delaying Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) elections under the guise of delimitation. The court ordered immediate compliance, emphasizing that local body elections must occur within five years of the previous term, with postponements not exceeding six months.

Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully echoed Dotasra’s sentiments, accusing the BJP of suppressing democratic voices by suspending student union elections and failing to conduct timely panchayat polls. He further alleged that gram panchayats were starved of central funds, MGNREGA workers faced delayed wages, and public welfare issues were being neglected.

Also Read: Uttarakhand Congress MLAs Protest Alleged Panchayat Poll Rigging

The rally, attended by hundreds of Congress workers, culminated in a march to the Shaheed Smarak, where leaders submitted a memorandum demanding immediate elections, an end to arbitrary delimitation, and the scrapping of the two-child norm for election candidates. Posts on X amplified the Congress’s accusations, with users condemning the BJP for stalling development and violating voters’ rights, though some defended the government, citing delimitation as necessary for fair representation.

The issue stems from the BJP’s actions following its 2023 Assembly election victory, including dissolving nine districts created by the previous Congress government and initiating a delimitation process that critics argue is politically motivated. As tensions rise, the Congress’s rally signals a broader push to hold the BJP accountable ahead of local elections.

Also Read: IKEA’s Big India Bet: 10% Growth Surge and Bold Expansion Plans Revealed!