Gehlot Warns Elections May Lose Meaning if BJP Returns to Power in 2029

Jaipur: Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday accused the BJP of using delimitation and electoral roll revision to weaken the opposition and said democratic elections could become meaningless if the ruling party returned to power in 2029.

Talking to reporters at his residence here, Gehlot alleged that the BJP was trying to change electoral boundaries to gain political advantage, citing the recent delimitation of wards in Rajasthan's urban local bodies and panchayats.

"Delimitation is as big an issue as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. It is equally dangerous for the country," he claimed.

Gehlot alleged that Congress-supporting wards had been merged while BJP-dominated wards were divided to increase their representation.

"In some places, four Congress-supporting wards were merged into one, while BJP-supporting wards were divided into two or three. Some wards have 300 voters, others have 3,000 or even 15,000," he claimed.

He said the Congress would have won direct elections in local bodies in cities like Jaipur and Jodhpur, but the delimitation exercise has "benefited the BJP".

Gehlot also questioned the Centre's plans for delimitation in connection with the implementation of women's reservation in legislatures.

He alleged that the BJP was using the issue of women's reservation to justify increasing the number of constituencies and changing electoral boundaries.

"If they succeed in carrying out delimitation across the country and return to power in 2029, I fear whether genuine elections will ever be held again," Gehlot said.

He claimed that India could face a situation where elections were held only on paper, and the opposition existed merely in name.

"What will happen to democracy and Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution if both the ruling party and the opposition are controlled by the same people?" he asked.

Gehlot also criticised the BJP for organising rallies under the slogan of saving democracy, saying it was unusual for a ruling party to hold demonstrations against the opposition.

"For the first time in 80 years, a ruling party is taking to the streets to protest. Earlier, opposition parties organised agitations, and governments took feedback from them to make improvements," he said.

The former chief minister said the BJP's recent rallies were an indication that the opposition's protests had "unsettled the ruling party".

He claimed that Congress and other opposition parties had conducted their demonstrations peacefully and maintained discipline despite political tensions. "Instead of responding to the issues raised by the opposition, they are organising counter-rallies. The entire government, including Union ministers, chief ministers and party functionaries, has come onto the streets," he said.

Gehlot alleged that the BJP's demonstrations caused inconvenience to traders and the public due to market closures, traffic jams and diversions.

"They were asking us to cancel our rally on November 1, saying traders would suffer. Now they themselves are causing inconvenience," he said.

The Congress leader also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his criticism of opposition protests and accused the BJP of creating political tensions in the country.

Gehlot also alleged that several democratic institutions and investigating agencies were functioning under pressure from the Centre.

On his differences with Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Gehlot said political criticism should not affect personal relations or respect for constitutional offices.

He said he had spoken to Sharma and Governor Haribhau Bagade on Monday and conveyed Diwali greetings.

"I believe the chief minister and the governor should be respected because of the offices they hold. We have the right to strongly criticise the government, but personal relations and the dignity of these offices should be maintained," he said.

Gehlot said Rajasthan had a long tradition of maintaining cordial relations between political opponents and expressed hope that it would continue.

"The duty of both the government and the opposition is to serve the people. If the government accepts valid criticism and makes corrections, it is ultimately the public that benefits," he said.