The Congress party in Rajasthan is facing internal conflicts as it seeks to win a second term in the state. Protests have erupted among Congress workers in certain areas of the state after the party released its fourth and fifth lists for the upcoming Assembly elections on November 25. These protests have become a major concern for the central leadership of the Congress and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. While Gehlot acknowledged that it is impossible to please everyone, he suggested that those who were denied tickets may be accommodated in various boards.
Currently, the Congress has announced candidates for 156 out of the 200 Assembly seats. However, three individuals – ministers Shanti Dhariwal and Mahesh Joshi, and party leader Dharmendra Rathore – have become sticking points due to their alleged rebellion against the party’s leadership before last year’s presidential elections. When Gehlot was a top contender for the party president’s post, 72 MLAs close to him submitted their resignations to the Assembly speaker in opposition to Sachin Pilot being named the next chief minister.
One of the recent protests by Congress workers took place at the party’s headquarters in Jaipur, demanding a ticket for Mahesh Joshi, the current MLA for the Hawamahal constituency. It is speculated that the ticket may go to the party’s Jaipur unit president RR Tiwari, considering Joshi’s rebellion and his son facing a rape charge. However, sources suggest that Shanti Dhariwal may still receive a ticket to avoid upsetting the chief minister. The situation remains unclear for Dharmendra Rathore.
The Congress has faced challenges with ticket distribution, which is a bigger issue for them compared to the BJP. The Congress has not been able to secure a simple majority in the last three elections, needing to win 101 out of 146 seats to form a government. Political strategist Amitabh Tiwari points out that the Congress has structural issues in Rajasthan, as there are 54 seats they have never won. In contrast, the BJP has only failed to win in 19 constituencies. Rebellion poses a significant problem for the Congress, while the BJP finds it easier to drop sitting MLAs due to its cadre-based party structure.
The Congress also faces the shadow of the Sachin Pilot-Ashok Gehlot feud, although Gehlot’s political influence and support from 12 independent candidates who won in 2018 work in the party’s favor. Sachin Pilot has indicated that he will decide who becomes the chief minister if the party wins, suggesting that he has been promised something. Tiwari explains that the Congress’ cadre in each Vidhan Sabha seat is divided among several leaders, making it challenging to unite the party behind one candidate.
In response to the protests, the Congress has stated that it is not surprising for a party in power to face discontent when tickets are denied. Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera emphasized that the ticket selection process takes time and is based on surveys and consultations. He also highlighted that the Congress is the winning party, contrasting it with the amount of internal conflict within the opposition party.
Overall, the infighting within the Congress party in Rajasthan poses a significant hurdle as they aim to secure a second consecutive term in the state. The protests and dissatisfaction among Congress workers reflect the challenges of ticket distribution and maintaining party unity, while the BJP benefits from its cadre-based structure. The outcome of the Assembly elections on November 25 will determine if the Congress can overcome these obstacles and secure victory.
