Jaipur, October 7 (Daily Kiran) : Former Chief Minister of Rajasthan and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot declared that the state Congress is fully united and poised to reclaim power in the upcoming assembly elections. Speaking at a press conference at the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters in Jaipur, Gehlot emphasized that the party’s solidarity is now evident to everyone.
“I want to make one thing clear. You often ask if there is a lack of unity within Congress. Today, you have witnessed that we are all united. The Congress will form the next government, and nothing can stop us,” he stated.
Gehlot dismissed any concerns about factionalism within the state Congress, asserting that the party has demonstrated its unity. He also commented on the recent urban local body elections, accusing opponents of unprecedented levels of “hooliganism” during the polls, a situation he claimed has never been seen in Rajasthan since independence.
He alleged that winning Congress councilors were taken to camps and expressed fears that similar incidents could occur in the upcoming Panchayati Raj elections. “If Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma is honest, he should impose a complete ban on ‘barricading’ during the upcoming elections. However, I doubt he will do that,” Gehlot remarked.
The term ‘barricading’ refers to the practice of isolating elected representatives in designated places to prevent contact with opposing parties or groups. Gehlot also challenged the BJP’s claims that the results of the urban local body elections marked a significant political victory for Chief Minister Sharma. He pointed out that the vote share difference between the BJP and Congress was a mere 0.94 percent.
He noted that typically, the ruling party enjoys an advantage in local elections, suggesting that this narrow margin should not be regarded as a major achievement. Gehlot claimed that in Jaipur and Jodhpur, Congress received approximately 15,000 more votes than the BJP. “If the mayoral elections were held directly by the public, Congress would have won in both cities,” he asserted.
Earlier, Gehlot addressed a meeting of district presidents, in-charges, and co-in-charges to discuss preparations for the Panchayati Raj elections. He stated that the Rajasthan Congress serves as a model of unity for the entire country and that this spirit must permeate down to the district, block, and village levels.
“Everyone must work together. The unity we are witnessing in the state Congress must reach the districts. There is no internal conflict within the state unit. This message must reach the public,” Gehlot urged.
He warned party workers that the upcoming Panchayati Raj elections would pose significant challenges, with the BJP potentially employing strategies like barricading. Gehlot emphasized that Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi is fighting not only for the Congress’s survival but also for the preservation of democracy in the country.
He also mentioned that under the ‘Organization Creation Campaign,’ district presidents have been selected, with Rahul Gandhi expressing confidence in the selection process and granting final approval.
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