Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Gehlot Predicts Congress Gains as Rajasthan Panchayat Polls Approach
Ashok Gehlot, a Congress leader, says farmers in Rajasthan are unhappy with the state government.
He thinks they may vote against the BJP in the upcoming village-level elections.
He also predicts that Congress will do well.
The elections are scheduled to happen in four phases between October 23 and November 28, 2026.
Once the schedule was announced, rules for election campaigning came into force.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma says his government is working to help farmers and develop villages.
He says the government increased a farmer support payment and has given money to millions of farmers.
The election debate is expected to include rural issues such as jobs and local development.
Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said farmers are unhappy with Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma's governance.
Gehlot predicted that farmers would teach the BJP a lesson in the Panchayat elections and said Congress would receive a strong mandate.
The Rajasthan State Election Commission scheduled the 2026 Panchayati Raj elections in four phases, from October 23 to November 28.
The Model Code of Conduct came into force after the election schedule was announced.
Sharma cited farmer support measures, including raising Kisan Samman Nidhi payments to Rs 9,000 and providing more than Rs 14,400 crore to over 76 lakh farmers.
- Who
- Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, and Rajasthan's BJP and Congress parties.
- What
- Gehlot predicted farmers would punish the BJP in the Panchayat polls and that Congress would win a strong mandate; Sharma highlighted the government's farmer welfare measures.
- When
- Gehlot's remarks were reported on October 4; the 2026 elections are scheduled for October 23 to November 28, in four phases.
- Where
- Rajasthan, India.
- Why
- Gehlot said farmers are unhappy with the state government's governance; the article says rural issues are expected to feature in the election contest.
Gehlot's criticism
Sharma's response
Government performance on farmers
Gehlot's criticism
Gehlot said farmers across Rajasthan are unhappy with the government's governance and will teach the BJP a lesson at the polls.
Sharma's response
Sharma said farmers are central to the government's agenda and cited increased Kisan Samman Nidhi payments and funding for farmers.
Election prospects
Gehlot's criticism
Gehlot said he was confident Congress would receive a strong mandate.
Sharma's response
The article reports Sharma's government measures but does not give a direct prediction about the election result.
- Election
- 2026 Panchayati Raj elections
- Election phases
- Four
- Scheduled dates
- October 23 to November 28, 2026
- Campaign rules
- The Model Code of Conduct came into force after the schedule announcement.
- Kisan Samman Nidhi
- Sharma said the amount had been increased to Rs 9,000.
- Farmer funding
- Sharma said more than Rs 14,400 crore had been provided to over 76 lakh farmers.
- Daytime electricity
- Sharma said the government aims to provide daytime electricity to farmers across Rajasthan by 2027.