Jaipur, August 30: Internal discord within the Congress party in Rajasthan has come to light ahead of the upcoming urban body elections. A heated argument erupted between former minister Ram Lal Jat and former MLA Dheeraj Gurjar during a meeting held at the Congress war room in Jaipur regarding ticket distribution.
Sources indicate that disagreements over candidate selection for the urban body seats in Bhilwara escalated to accusations and intense debates during the meeting. To manage the situation, state Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Tikaram Julie, had to intervene.
Party insiders noted that tension was palpable as soon as the meeting commenced. The growing rift over ticket distribution made both leaders unwilling to engage in discussions together. Reports suggest that during the debate, Ram Lal Jat made serious remarks about Dheeraj Gurjar, who in turn questioned Jat’s behavior and working style. The situation calmed down only after senior leaders intervened.
Other Congress leaders present at the meeting also took note of the incident. Leaders in adjacent rooms heard raised voices and observed the tension between the two. However, neither Ram Lal Jat nor Dheeraj Gurjar has publicly commented in detail following the incident. Gurjar merely acknowledged that there are disagreements over ticket distribution but declined to elaborate further.
This dispute highlights the long-standing factional struggles within the Bhilwara Congress unit. Ram Lal Jat is considered close to former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, while Dheeraj Gurjar is associated with the Sachin Pilot camp. Supporters of both leaders have previously clashed over local political issues.
Notably, both leaders faced defeat in the 2023 Rajasthan Assembly elections. Dheeraj Gurjar contested from the Sahada seat in Bhilwara district, where he lost to BJP’s Gopichand Meena by 580 votes. Meanwhile, Ram Lal Jat contested from the Mandal seat but was defeated by BJP’s Udaylal Bhadhana by a staggering margin of 35,878 votes.
As the deadline for nominations for the urban body elections approaches, this latest controversy within the Congress party may heighten concerns among the leadership. The party faces the challenge of maintaining organizational unity amid discontent among ticket aspirants and fears of potential rebellion.
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