Jaipur: Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra Friday accused BJP govt of misusing govt machinery to put pressure on Congress candidates in the urban local body elections.He alleged that Congress candidates were being threatened, pressured to withdraw nominations and targeted through govt agencies in several districts.Addressing a news conference in Jaipur, Dotasra alleged that in Deshnok, Bikaner, Congress candidate Omprakash Mundra had faced pressure to join BJP. He claimed that although a complaint against Mundra was lodged in 2024, no action was taken for nearly two years, but an ACB case was registered soon after Mundra filed his nomination as a Congress candidate.“No action was taken on the complaint for nearly two years, but after he filed his nomination as a Congress candidate, an ACB case was registered against him to put pressure on him and prevent him from contesting the election,” Dotasra alleged.He alleged that a woman candidate in Malpura was pressured by a minister to withdraw her nomination, while similar incidents took place in Deeg. In Pali, the home turf of BJP state president Madan Rathore, Dotasra alleged that Congress candidates were being intimidated through the use of political influence.Dotasra also alleged that in Nathdwara, a woman candidate who was going to withdraw her nomination was “picked up by the police”. In Bharatpur and Bhilwara, he claimed, Congress candidates’ symbols reached the designated rooms at 2:47 pm but were not accepted immediately.“They were told that BJP candidates’ symbols were being taken first and theirs would be taken afterwards. Despite the Congress candidates and their symbols being present in the same room, their symbols were not accepted. This is a clear misuse of power,” Dotasra said.He contrasted the situation with Baseri, where, he alleged, nomination forms and symbols were accepted till 9 pm.Dotasra alleged that the incidents reflected BJP govt’s use of administrative machinery to influence the electoral process and accused the ruling party of “attacking democracy” ahead of the civic polls.
