Jaipur/Jhunjhunu: Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra Saturday accused Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma of employing undemocratic tactics to secure victories in the urban local body elections.Speaking to constituents in Bathoth village of Sikar’s Lakshmangarh subdivision, Dotasra alleged that BJP was “fencing” independent councillors and attempting to manipulate the formation of governing boards in different civic bodies. He claimed that Sharma’s administration was focused on ‘catching‘ independents rather than championing robust democratic principles.While inaugurating various developmental projects, including a new hospital facility, Dotasra asserted that Congress did not resort to such tactics, as its councillor candidates were transparently aligned with the party’s mission. “My councillors are proudly sitting here with me, showcasing that we don’t engage in such coercive measures,” he said, emphasising the integrity of Congress as a party. He outlined plans for development works worth nearly Rs 51 lakh for Bathoth, reinforcing his commitment to public service.In response, BJP MLA Kalicharan Saraf refuted Dotasra’s claims, labelling the ruling party’s organisational efforts as a tradition rather than a “barricading” tactic. “We conduct training camps for our councillors, many of whom are new, to familiarise them with the party’s ideology and public service approach,” Saraf said. Emphasising the importance of the training, he noted that it was integral to BJP’s methodology for effective governance and community engagement.Saraf expressed optimism regarding the party’s prospects in urban local body elections, forecasting that BJP would dominate in around 275 to 280 of Rajasthan’s 309 urban local bodies. He remained confident that BJP would secure victories in all 10 municipal corporations as well, dismissing the opposition’s concerns as politically motivated posturing.
