Jaipur: Rajasthan Congress Sunday accused the BJP-led state govt of using police and administrative machinery to pressure newly elected councillors ahead of Monday’s mayor and chairperson elections, alleging such attempts were being made at several places where numbers are closely stacked.PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra alleged that police teams entered hotels at 25 locations where Congress councillors were staying as part of the party’s “badaabandi”. He claimed the move was aimed at intimidating councillors and influencing their voting decisions.In Losal, Sikar district Congress president Sunita Gathala alleged that 150-200 people in 30-40 vehicles reached the camp where Congress councillors were staying around 10 am on Sunday. She said the group included Rameshwar, who had contested the ward election as a BJP candidate and had allegedly come to take away Congress councillors.“We strongly opposed it. Congress workers and police reached the spot, following which they left. Dotasra was also informed about the incident,” Gathala said.In Bikaner, where Congress won 42 of 80 wards against BJP’s 27, former minister B D Kalla alleged that former mayor and Congress councillor Maqsood Ahmed was asked to appear at a police station on Sept 20 in connection with a years-old case, a day before the mayoral election.“Sept 21 ko mayor election… aur 20 ko bulawa… BJP ye kaisi rajneeti par utar aayi hai,” Kalla said in a social media post, alleging misuse of govt machinery. He said Congress workers would not be intimidated and claimed the party would form the board in Bikaner with a full majority.In Khairthal, Congress emerged as the largest party with 20 of 45 wards, against BJP’s eight, while independents won 17. With 23 required for a majority, independents hold the balance.Mundawar MLA Lalit Yadav and Kishangarhbas MLA Deepchand Khairia, along with Congress functionaries, reached Khairthal police station on Saturday evening and submitted a memorandum seeking action over alleged harassment of Congress workers, councillors and their family members.Yadav alleged that people linked to the ruling party were putting pressure on families of Congress and independent councillors ahead of the chairperson election.“They are putting pressure on families and getting cases registered against them,” he alleged.In Ajmer, Congress won 37 of 80 wards against BJP’s 32, with 11 independents. With the majority mark at 41, independents could be crucial to the mayoral election.“Some independents who had claimed to support us have become unreachable,” senior Congress functionary Dharmendra Rathore said.Congress alleged similar attempts to influence councillors at several locations ahead of the civic chief elections. BJP rejected the allegations, maintaining that its meetings and activities involving newly elected councillors were part of organisational preparations.
