Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Congress Forms Panel to Probe Rajasthan Poll Setbacks and Cross-Voting
Congress has created a group to find out why it faced setbacks in Rajasthan’s city and town elections.
The group has nine members and is led by C. P. Joshi.
It has seven days to prepare a report.
The party is checking claims that some of its councillors voted for candidates from another party.
It is also looking at how the party managed its election efforts.
In Bikaner, a BJP candidate won the deputy mayor election despite Congress having more councillors, leading to claims of cross-voting.
The party says it may discipline people if the inquiry finds they were responsible.
A separate dispute in Bhilwara involved Congress candidates who could not use the party symbol because required letters were not submitted on time.
The Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee formed a nine-member panel to investigate local election setbacks, alleged cross-voting and organisational lapses.
Former Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C. P. Joshi leads the committee, which must report within seven days.
The inquiry covers allegations that Congress councillors voted against official party candidates in mayor and chairperson elections across urban local bodies.
Party sources say disciplinary action may follow; reports describe hundreds of councillors under scrutiny, with the final number pending verification.
The panel will also examine poor floor management and party performance, including the Bikaner deputy mayor result and the Bhilwara party-symbol dispute.
- Who
- The Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee and its nine-member inquiry panel, led by former Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C. P. Joshi.
- What
- An internal inquiry into electoral setbacks, alleged cross-voting and organisational lapses in Rajasthan’s urban local body elections.
- When
- After the recently concluded elections; the panel has seven days to submit its report.
- Where
- Rajasthan, including Bikaner, Ajmer, Kota, Pali and Bhilwara.
- Why
- To investigate the party’s setbacks and allegations that councillors voted against official Congress candidates or that election processes were poorly managed.
Congress inquiry and possible discipline
Councillors and local organisation under scrutiny
Alleged cross-voting
Congress inquiry and possible discipline
Congress is investigating reports that councillors voted against official party candidates and says disciplinary action may follow if responsibility is established.
Councillors and local organisation under scrutiny
The articles give no responses from the councillors under scrutiny; they say individual cases and the final number must be verified.
Reasons for election setbacks
Congress inquiry and possible discipline
The panel will examine cross-voting, poor floor management and the role of party leaders and councillors.
Councillors and local organisation under scrutiny
The reports describe broader organisational disputes, including the Bhilwara party-symbol issue, but do not provide a response from those involved.
- Investigating body
- Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee
- Committee size
- Nine members
- Committee chair
- Former Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C. P. Joshi
- Report deadline
- Seven days
- Scope
- Cross-voting allegations, organisational lapses, poor floor management and election setbacks
- Councillors under scrutiny
- Reports describe hundreds; the final number depends on inquiry and verification
- Bikaner example
- Congress had 41 councillors and BJP 27; the BJP candidate won the deputy mayor election 40–38
- Bhilwara dispute
- Seventeen Congress candidates could not contest with the party symbol after authority letters were not submitted on time
