JAIPUR / JODHPUR: The Congress on Monday accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of skewing the nomination process for the forthcoming urban local body elections in Rajasthan, alleging that its candidates were permitted to submit party symbol authorisations and nomination documents after the official deadline.
Opposition alleges 'double standard' at nomination centres
Rajasthan Assembly Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully said several Congress aspirants were prevented from filing their papers before the 3 pm cut-off on Monday, while BJP candidates were allegedly allowed to complete formalities beyond that time at some centres. He named Bhilwara, Alwar, Baseri and Mathania as locations where irregularities occurred and urged the State Election Commission to take immediate action.
“Not accepting the forms of Congress candidates who reached with party symbols before the stipulated time is murder of democracy,” Jully said.
Jully alleged that in Bhilwara Congress nominees who arrived ahead of the deadline were denied the opportunity to submit nomination forms and symbol authorisations. He claimed a similar pattern in Alwar, and said that in Baseri BJP forms were accepted after the 3 pm cut-off.
Protest at Mathania returns officer's office
Former Congress MLA Divya Maderna staged a protest outside the returning officer's office in Mathania (Jodhpur district), remaining there through the night, alleging discrimination in how candidates were treated during the nomination process.
“How can the same rule be different for two people?” Maderna asked, describing an incident in which she said a local MLA and a BJP candidate were allowed to enter the RO's office after 3 pm while a Congress aspirant inside the office was reportedly made to leave.
According to Maderna, the local police station officer received the MLA at the gate and escorted him inside — an action she suggested amounted to preferential treatment. The report did not contain a response from the local administration or the police on these specific claims.
What the opposition is demanding
Jully characterised the alleged conduct as raising questions about the impartiality of the election process and framed it as an attack on democratic norms. He warned the Congress would challenge perceived irregularities before every available constitutional forum.
- Immediate scrutiny: Congress has urged the State Election Commission to examine the nomination process at the cited centres.
- Legal recourse: The party has threatened to pursue challenges in appropriate legal and constitutional bodies if discrepancies are not addressed.
- Local protests: Opposition leaders have begun staging demonstrations at returning officers' offices in affected districts.
Officials and next steps
The source material does not include comment from the State Election Commission, the returning officers involved, the district administrations named, or the BJP. The election authority is the statutory body responsible for overseeing nominations and ensuring adherence to electoral rules, including deadlines and procedures for symbol authorisations.
Nomination-day disputes can lead to immediate administrative review, and in many cases parties move to the courts for rapid remedies. The Congress's decision to lodge formal complaints and to mount public protests increases the likelihood of prompt scrutiny by electoral and judicial bodies.
| District / Place | Allegation |
|---|---|
| Bhilwara | Congress candidates allegedly not permitted to submit nomination forms before 3 pm |
| Alwar | Rules reportedly violated; details unspecified |
| Baseri | BJP candidates' forms allegedly accepted after the 3 pm deadline |
| Mathania (Jodhpur) | Former MLA protest alleging post-deadline entry and preferential treatment |
The unfolding dispute comes as nominations concluded at 3 pm on Monday. Any formal complaints to the State Election Commission, and subsequent rulings, will determine whether nomination filings are invalidated, allowed, or subject to correction. Election observers and party legal cells often monitor such developments closely, given the potential to affect candidate lists and the fairness of contesting procedures.
With urban local body polls having direct impact on civic governance—from town planning and water supply to taxation—the treatment of nominations and adherence to transparent processes are likely to remain a flashpoint in the days ahead as parties prepare for campaigning and statutory scrutiny.
Meera Rathore is the Rajasthan correspondent who compiled this report from the available accounts and official statements cited in the original reporting.
