Dotasra is confident Congress will win all seven bypolls, citing public discontent with BJP’s governance.
Jaipur: Both, BJP and Congress have fastened their seatbelts for the bypolls on the seven seats of Rajasthan. These by-elections are not just important for BJP, but will also crucial for Congress. Rather, it is a litmus test for Congress. Additionally, it is also a major challenge for the State President Govind Singh Dotasra. He surprised everyone with the results achieved during his tenure in both, the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, outperforming other state leaders. During the Assembly elections, even when the central leadership expected only 30 to 40 seats, Congress silenced its critics by securing 70 seats—a victory in which Dotasra played a key role.
Dotasra, a leader from the Jat community, ensured that the votes of his caste remained united. However, if the Gurjar and Meena communities had supported Congress in the Assembly elections, the outcome would have been different. Ashok Gehlot might have succeeded in retaining his government, but these two communities distanced themselves from the party.
The central leadership’s approach was neither supportive nor practical. Had they effectively managed the situation with senior leader Sachin Pilot, who had rebelled against the government shortly before the elections, the results could have been different. Despite this, under Dotasra’s leadership, Congress pulled off a major upset by defeating BJP in 11 seats during the Lok Sabha elections—a feat that few believed possible in Rajasthan at the time.
Congress carried out social engineering brilliantly. By focusing on the voters of Jats, Meenas, Dalits and backward classes, it defeated BJP on 11 seats. Dotasra handled the Jat dominated areas in his own way and made a big move by giving the Sikar seat of his parliamentary constituency to Amararam of CPI(M) in the alliance. At the same time, Rahul Kaswan, who was disillusioned with BJP, was made to join the Congress and got a ticket from Churu. As a result, Congress secured all the seats in Shekhawati, and this success also influenced outcomes in Nagaur and Barmer. BJP lost on all these seats. Dotasra is the only leader in the state who does not shy away from directly attacking the Sangh and BJP. The rest of the leaders remain cautious. The reward he got for this was that Rahul Gandhi retained him even after the end of his first term. Dotasra took charge of the party in 2020 at a time when Sachin Pilot had rebelled and tried to topple the government. The party removed Pilot and made Dotasra the president. Then he took over the party along with the then Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. While exceeding expectations in the Assembly elections, BJP faced a significant setback in Rajasthan during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, following Uttar Pradesh. If seen in terms of the number of seats, in Rajasthan, Congress caused a loss of half the seats to BJP. Under the leadership of Pilot, the party could not win a single Lok Sabha seat in 2014 and 2019. However, after the victory in Haryana, the spirits of BJP are high. In such a situation, the path of by-elections is not very easy for Congress either, but in a special conversation, there is no change in Dotasra’s attitude. Dotasra says that out of seven seats, BJP will get zero seats. Congress will win all the seats. Dotasra lists many reasons for the victory in the by-elections. It is said that in the last 11 months, the BJP government has only and only cursed the Congress and stopped the public welfare schemes of their government.
This BJP government is a “slip government,” with work being done only when directives come from Delhi, leaving ministers and leaders frustrated. There is significant discontent among the public as well. BJP resorted to polarising politics by spreading lies during the Assembly elections, but within six months, the people realised this and taught the party a lesson in the Lok Sabha elections. Rajasthan played a key role in preventing BJP from gaining a majority in the Lok Sabha, with Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan’s combined 40 seats being crucial. BJP had high expectations from these two major Hindi-belt states, but they played a vital role in stopping the party’s majority.
Dotasra also claims that the BJP government is known for making U-turns. The public has grown disillusioned with the government’s 10-month tenure and its internal conflicts. Due to infighting, orders issued by the BJP government barely last 24 hours. In the education department alone, the government has had to reverse several orders.
Dotasra states that farmers are suffering under BJP’s misrule. BJP had promised to provide one lakh jobs to youth in the first year, yet no recruitment has taken place, leaving young people frustrated. While BJP previously criticised the Congress government over law and order, today, the state’s law and order has completely deteriorated. The Chief Minister’s own district, Bharatpur, now ranks highest in crimes against women.
Regarding factionalism within Congress, Dotasra asserts that it no longer exists. All party members are united in strengthening the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, National President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi. When asked about the future of the alliance in the Lok Sabha, Dotasara responds that the decision rests with the high command. He remains confident about winning seats where elections will be held, including Dausa, Jhunjhunu, and Deoli Uniara, where Congress MLAs have already been elected to the Lok Sabha.
The party is also confident of winning the Ramgarh seat, which is vacant following the death of Congress MLA Zuber Khan. As for AAP, seats like Chaurasi and Khinvsar are currently with allies, and Dotasra hopes for an agreement. The Salumber seat, vacant due to the death of a BJP MLA, is also expected to go to Congress, given the BJP government’s disappointing performance.
Commenting on BJP’s excitement over its victory in Haryana, Dotasra asserts that it will have no impact on Rajasthan. He mentions that the high command has initiated an inquiry into the reasons for the party’s loss in Haryana, but stresses that the situation in Rajasthan is different. The people are disillusioned and will not be swayed this time. They will vote for Congress, ensuring that the state government makes decisions that prioritise the public’s interest.