Jaipur: Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot Wednesday accused Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) of indirectly helping the BJP by splitting anti-BJP votes and turning elections into three-cornered contests.Addressing mediapersons, Gehlot appealed to BAP functionaries and workers to return to the Congress, saying his party had always protected Adivasi interests. He said BAP may have been formed with a specific purpose, but it was not helping its support base and was instead damaging the Congress, ultimately benefiting the BJP.Calling the BJP a “fascist” party that was weakening democracy, Gehlot said anti-BJP forces should not be divided. He also welcomed former Congress MP Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya’s return to the party, saying Malviya had joined the BJP earlier due to “certain misunderstandings.”Gehlot also attacked the anti-paper leak Bill passed in the Lok Sabha, calling it “merely a face-saving measure.” He said the Bill should have been drafted after consultations with opposition parties.He claimed the previous Congress govt in Rajasthan had enacted a stronger anti-cheating law, with provisions for life imprisonment, confiscation of properties of examination mafias and fines of up to ₹10 crore. Paper leaks, he said, had been brought under control because of that law.But Gehlot warned that punishment alone would not stop leaks if examination management remained weak. Drawing a parallel with thefts continuing despite strict laws, he said paper leaks would recur unless exam systems were properly managed.Referring to protests over examination irregularities, Gehlot said the nationwide mobilisation of youth and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s call for them to struggle showed rising public anger against the BJP. He claimed both the BJP’s popularity and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s standing were declining.Taking aim at the Bhajan Lal Sharma govt, Gehlot said the Congress would return to power in the next Assembly election, but added that the present govt should still ensure good governance during its tenure. He said the state govt’s performance was being discussed in “every village and household” and urged the chief minister to assess whether public perception was positive or negative.
