Rajasthan civic polls: BJP, Cong step up rebel crackdown; more than 65 axed so far

Jaipur, Sep 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The political heat over rebel candidates in the Rajasthan civic body elections is set to intensify, with both the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress preparing fresh lists of leaders and workers accused of defying official party candidates after expelling 65-plus workers.

While the BJP has already expelled 41 office-bearers from across Rajasthan for six years for contesting against party nominees, filing nominations as independents or backing family members, Congress has also expelled around 25 workers.

BJP leaders indicated that the disciplinary exercise is far from over.

Congress leaders, too, said that it has begun compiling reports from districts and is expected to initiate further action, particularly against members holding organisational posts.

The BJP has so far taken the strongest action in Jaipur, where 26 leaders have faced disciplinary proceedings. Vidyadhar Nagar alone accounted for 13 expulsions, while seven leaders were expelled in Pratapgarh.

In Ajmer, the BJP has expelled six leaders and workers for six years. Those facing action include Hema Gehlot, who is contesting as an independent from Ward No. 4 of the Municipal Corporation, and her husband Dharmendra Gehlot, a former mayor who campaigned for her.

BJP’s Ajmer general secretary Shankar Singh Rawat, former councillor Hemlata Bansal, former Mandal president Prakash Bansal and Renu Yadav have also been expelled.

According to party sources, those who rebelled after being denied tickets had already been warned against contesting or supporting candidates opposing the BJP's official nominees. The party is now gathering further information and complaints about alleged anti-party activities during the civic elections.

BJP leaders indicated that the next round of disciplinary action could be announced soon, with more names likely to emerge.

BJP state general secretary Shravan Bagri told IANS that the party had acted after evaluating complaints received from different quarters.

“We have taken action against these 41 rebels after evaluating complaints received from different people. In fact, more complaints are coming in, and more names might come to the fore in future,” he said.

The BJP's disciplinary drive comes amid growing concern that rebel candidates could split their traditional vote bases and hurt official nominees in closely contested wards.

The Congress, meanwhile, has also stepped up its scrutiny of rebels. The Jodhpur and Kota Congress District Congress Committees have already expelled more than 25 individuals, including independent candidates, for six years for their alleged anti-party activities.

Those facing action include several party office-bearers, among them two former general secretaries, a general secretary, a former nominated councillor, an NSUI general secretary, a ward president and a Mandal-level office-bearer.

Congress spokesperson Swarnim Chaturvedi, speaking to IANS, said that the district units had forwarded reports on rebel candidates and supporters from different parts of the state.

“District Congress Committees have already sent us reports of rebels from different parts of the state. We are evaluating them and will take action after the elections,” he said.

Congress PCC president Govind Dotasra has also indicated that the party has prepared a list of members holding organisational positions who are either contesting against Congress candidates or supporting non-Congress nominees.

“Action will first be taken against those holding party posts,” Dotasra said.

Congress's approach suggests that the next phase of disciplinary action could focus heavily on office-bearers who openly sided with rival candidates despite holding organisational responsibilities.

Meanwhile, a separate controversy has emerged in Rajsamand's Ward No. 22 involving Aam Aadmi Party candidate Amit Verma, who has already been expelled from the party for six years over alleged anti-party activities. The controversy intensified after videos featuring Verma surfaced. In one video, he appeared to support the BJP candidate.

In a subsequent video, however, Verma alleged that he had been harassed for nearly six hours and pressured into making the earlier statement. He also said he was not afraid of the BJP. Verma's wife has separately alleged that strong-arm tactics were used to force the creation and circulation of the video on social media.

The episode has brought the Ward 22 contest into focus, with questions also being raised over whether the district election authorities will take cognizance of the allegations. With the BJP and Congress both preparing additional lists of rebels, the disciplinary battle is unlikely to end with the action already announced.

Dr Nimisha, BJP spokesperson, said, “Discipline stands sacrosanct, and we adhere to it.”

The message from both major parties is increasingly clear: rebellion against official candidates will carry a political cost, and more names could face disciplinary action soon. As campaigning gathers pace, the expanding rebel lists underline the depth of dissatisfaction over ticket distribution and the challenge before the BJP and Congress to contain internal dissent before it affects the electoral prospects of their official candidates.

Source: IANS