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Key Points

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has launched a scathing attack on the BJP government's local body election strategies. He claims the ruling party is deliberately manipulating electoral boundaries and flouting legal procedures to secure electoral advantages. The allegations include arbitrary reorganization of panchayats and urban bodies, ignoring population standards, and delaying elections. The matter has escalated to the Rajasthan High Court, which has directed the state government to respond to a PIL challenging these election delays.

Key Points: Gehlot Blasts BJP's Rajasthan Local Body Election Manipulation

  • BJP accused of arbitrary panchayat and urban body reorganization
  • Gehlot highlights systematic election norm violations
  • High Court challenges municipal election delay
  • Public resentment growing against government actions
2 min read

BJP govt flouting norms to win local body elections: Ashok Gehlot

Former CM Ashok Gehlot exposes alleged BJP irregularities in Rajasthan's local body reorganization and election strategies

"I have never seen such blatant disregard for rules and laws - Ashok Gehlot"

Jaipur, April 30

Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday alleged that the Rajasthan government was violating rules and engaging in irregularities while reorganising the Panchayati Raj institutions and urban bodies in the state. In a strongly worded social media post, Gehlot criticised the BJP and the RSS, accusing them of manipulating the process to win upcoming local body elections "by hook or crook".

He claimed that the government was arbitrarily making new boundaries, flouting legal procedures, and ignoring public objections.

Gehlot wrote on Instagram: "The BJP government in Rajasthan is arbitrarily reorganising Panchayati Raj and urban bodies. I have never seen such blatant disregard for rules and laws. Instead of addressing public objections, district collectors are saying they can't intervene, as all decisions are being made at the state level."

He further alleged that the government failed to conduct by-elections in several areas, including the Bharatpur district, and used the excuse of 'One State-One Election' to delay elections even after the completion of terms.

"Now, in a bid to appease their vote bank, they are ignoring established norms and public convenience. Minimum and maximum population standards are not being followed, nor is the required distance from administrative headquarters being maintained," Gehlot added.

He pointed out specific anomalies, such as merging villages located 10 kilometres from cities into urban bodies, and assigning villages to panchayats in such a way that the panchayat headquarters ends up 5 to 10 km away.

Gehlot concluded by stating that public resentment is growing due to these irregularities.

On Tuesday, the state government's decision to delay municipal body elections was challenged in the Rajasthan High Court.

A division bench comprising Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Anand Sharma heard the PIL filed by former MLA Sanyam Lodha and directed the state government to submit its response within four weeks.

According to the petition, elections have not been conducted in 55 municipal bodies whose terms expired in November 2024. Instead, administrators have been appointed -- an act the petitioner alleges is unconstitutional and violates the Rajasthan Municipal Act, 2009.

Advocate Puneet Singhvi, representing Lodha, argued that the Supreme Court has held that local body elections can only be delayed in exceptional circumstances, such as natural disasters.

"There is no such justification in the current case. The government has failed to uphold its constitutional obligation," Singhvi said

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Gehlot ji is right to raise these concerns. Local body elections are the foundation of democracy. If boundaries are being changed arbitrarily, it defeats the purpose of grassroots governance. BJP should follow proper procedures instead of trying to manipulate the system. 🏛️
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Priya M.
As someone from Bharatpur district, I can confirm that by-elections have been pending for too long. The 'One State-One Election' excuse doesn't hold water when people's representation is being denied. This is pure politics over governance.
A
Amit S.
While I generally support BJP's development agenda, this kind of boundary manipulation is unacceptable. The party should win elections based on performance, not by changing rules. Hope the High Court takes strict action if norms are indeed being violated.
S
Sunita R.
Why is Gehlot only speaking up now? Congress did similar things when they were in power. The whole system needs reform - politicians treat local bodies as their personal fiefdoms. Time for citizens to demand better from all parties! 💪
V
Vikram J.
The merging of villages 10km away into urban bodies makes no sense administratively. How will basic services reach them? This seems like a clear attempt to create favorable constituencies. Hope the court intervenes to protect democratic principles.
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Neha P.
As a political science student, I find this concerning. Local self-government is part of our constitutional framework. If state governments keep interfering like this, we'll lose the essence of decentralized governance. All parties should come together to protect panchayati raj institutions.

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