Rajasthan LoP Jully accuses BJP of political hooliganism over voter threat

Rajasthan Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully on Saturday accused the BJP of "political hooliganism" and misuse of power after a video purportedly showed a party leader threatening voters during an election meeting in Bamanwas in Sawai Madhopur district.

Jully alleged that Bamanwas panchayat samiti pradhan Shashikala Meena, in the presence of BJP MLA Jitendra Gothwal, party candidate Rajendra Meena and Khandar pradhan Narendra Chaudhary, threatened people with visits to police stations if they did not vote for the BJP.

He described the alleged remarks as "not democracy but open political hooliganism under the protection of the government."

In a post on X, Jully alleged that BJP leaders, "intoxicated with power", had begun treating democracy as their fiefdom and using the government machinery as a weapon of the party.

He also accused the Election Commission of being a "puppet" of the BJP and alleged that it was acting as a mute spectator.

"Mukhya Mantri ji, this is not just arrogance, it is the BJP's frustration over the crushing defeat it can see coming in the municipal elections," Jully said.

He claimed that voters would use their electoral power to remove the "arrogant government" from office.

"Rajasthan's people are not going to be afraid. In this election, BJP's threats, dictatorship and misuse of power will be accounted for, with interest," he said.

The BJP and the Election Commission have not yet responded to the allegations.

Polling for 309 urban local bodies is scheduled to take place on September 9 and 11.

The elections will cover 10,245 councillor posts across 10 municipal corporations, 51 municipal councils and 248 municipalities.

Votes for the councillor posts will be counted on September 14.

The heads of the urban local bodies will be elected on September 21, while elections for deputy mayors, deputy chairpersons and municipal vice-presidents will be held on September 22.  (with inputs from PTI)