JAIPUR: Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday urged voters to support Congress candidates in the upcoming urban local body elections, alleging that the BJP government had failed to address civic issues during its two-and-a-half years in power.
In an appeal issued ahead of polling on September 9 and 11, Gehlot said the civic elections provided voters an opportunity to voice their dissatisfaction with the state government.
He alleged that several urban areas were facing deteriorating roads, inadequate drainage and worsening problems related to sanitation, stray cattle and traffic management.
Comparing the BJP government’s performance with that of the previous Congress administration, Gehlot claimed that his government had distributed more than 10 lakh land lease deeds despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The BJP government, even under normal circumstances, has not been able to distribute even one lakh pattas in two-and-a-half years,” he claimed.
Gehlot further alleged that welfare initiatives launched during the previous Congress government, covering pensions, free medicines, health insurance, scholarships, urban employment and subsidised meals, had either been curtailed or reduced to merely paperwork.
He said the previous government had also pursued an urban development strategy, citing infrastructure projects in Jaipur and Kota, along with flyovers and underpasses aimed at improving traffic movement.
The Congress leader alleged that a number of projects approved during his tenure had subsequently been put on hold.
Describing the civic vote as significant, Gehlot said the election of ward councillors and mayors would directly affect basic services such as road repairs, sewerage, drinking water and issuance of land lease deeds.
He also criticised Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma’s roadshows in support of BJP candidates, claiming they had failed to generate public enthusiasm.
Gehlot appealed to voters to defeat the BJP in the civic elections, saying the result would send a message to the state government about public sentiment.
Polling for 309 urban local bodies in Rajasthan is scheduled in two phases on September 9 and 11. Votes for councillor posts will be counted on September 14.