2 hrs ago
Gehlot Accuses BJP of Misusing Machinery in Rajasthan Civic Elections
Ashok Gehlot, a Congress leader, accused the BJP of trying to win control of some city councils in Rajasthan.
He said councillors were allegedly offered large amounts of money to support BJP candidates.
He also claimed that police officers and government officials were pressuring some councillors.
The BJP won more wards than Congress in the statewide civic elections.
However, Gehlot said the BJP did not have a clear majority in many local bodies.
He argued that the difference in vote share between the two parties was very small.
He also said that changing the boundaries of wards may have affected how votes became seats.
Elections for mayors and chairpersons were scheduled for September 21.
Ashok Gehlot accused the BJP of using money, police and administrative pressure to control urban local bodies in Rajasthan.
Gehlot alleged councillors were offered between Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 2.5 crore to support BJP candidates.
Indirect elections for mayors and chairpersons in 305 urban local bodies are scheduled for September 21.
The BJP won 4,182 wards statewide, compared with 3,619 for Congress and 2,273 for Independents.
Gehlot said the BJP lacked clear majorities in 223 of Rajasthan’s 309 urban local bodies and alleged faulty delimitation distorted results.
- Who
- Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot made the allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party and its state government.
- What
- Gehlot accused the BJP of using money power, police and administrative machinery to influence councillors before indirect civic elections.
- Where
- Rajasthan, including Mandawa, Neemrana, Tonk, Jodhpur, Kotputli-Behror, Sikar, Dholpur, Jalore, Ajmer and Bundi.
- When
- The allegations were reported on September 17; mayor and chairperson elections were scheduled for September 21, followed by deputy-level elections on September 22.
- Why
- Gehlot said the BJP was seeking support from Independents and other councillors where no party had a clear majority.
Key facts
- Alleged offers
- Gehlot claimed councillors were offered between Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 2.5 crore to support BJP candidates.
- Scheduled elections
- Mayors and chairpersons in 305 urban local bodies were scheduled to be elected on September 21.
- Follow-up elections
- Deputy mayors, deputy chairpersons and municipal vice-presidents were scheduled for September 22.
- Ward results
- The BJP won 4,182 wards, Congress won 3,619 and Independents won 2,273.
- Statewide vote share
- Gehlot cited 35.19% for the BJP and 34.25% for Congress, a difference of 0.94 percentage point.
- Majority claim
- Gehlot claimed the BJP lacked a clear majority in 223 of Rajasthan’s 309 urban local bodies.
- Reported consequences
- Gehlot warned that recovering large election expenditures could encourage corruption in civic works and services.
Quotes
Ashok Gehlot
Former Rajasthan chief minister and senior Congress leader
“This would result in corruption in civic works and services related to roads, drains, land deeds and other municipal matters that will ultimately burden the people”
theprint.in
“The game of horse-trading has now reached the urban local bodies”
theprint.in
Sources
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