Rajasthan Congress tensions surface as state chief takes swipe at Gehlot

The simmering tensions within the Rajasthan Congress came to the surface on Thursday when state party president Govind Singh Dotasra made a veiled attack on former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, accusing unnamed leaders of working for personal branding rather than the party's interest.

Dotasra's comments were made just hours after tribal leader Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya, along with around 300 workers of the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP), joined the Congress at Gehlot's residence in Jaipur. The induction was seen as a move by Gehlot to consolidate his hold over tribal voters, a key constituency in the state.

Without directly naming Gehlot, Dotasra said at the Congress headquarters: "If someone is working for their own branding, good luck to them. I work for the Congress and my loyalty will always be towards the Congress party. I will never work for anyone's branding. I have served this party and will continue to do so."

The statement underlines the deep factional divisions that have plagued the Rajasthan Congress since the party's defeat in the 2023 assembly elections. Gehlot, a two-time chief minister, remains a powerful figure in the state, while Dotasra is considered a close associate of the party's central leadership. Their rivalry has often played out in public, with frequent disputes over organisational decisions and candidate selection.

Political analysts observe that the timing of Thursday's events is significant. Gehlot hosting the BAP leaders at his residence signals his continued political ambitions, while Dotasra's response appears aimed at asserting his authority as the state unit chief. The public nature of the disagreement is likely to worry party leaders in Delhi, who have been trying to project unity against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

The BAP, which emerged as a political force in the 2023 Rajasthan elections, winning three assembly seats and also performing well in the Lok Sabha elections, has been seen as a challenger to both the Congress and the BJP in tribal belts. The induction of Malviya and his supporters is expected to boost the Congress's tribal outreach, but it could also intensify intra-party friction.

Neither Gehlot nor Malviya has responded to Dotasra's remarks. The Congress leadership has yet to intervene, leaving the matter open and potentially creating more uncertainty in the state unit as it prepares for upcoming by-elections.