BJP misuses government agencies to pressurize elected councilors: Congress leader Jully

Congress leader Tikaram Jully alleged that the police and the administration were being used as instruments of political pressure to influence the election of civic body chairmen. File | Photo credit: PTI

Tikaram Jully, Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan Assembly, on Monday (September 21, 2026) accused the BJP government in the state of misusing the police, administration and other government agencies to pressurize elected councilors before forming councils in urban local bodies.

Mr. Jully alleged that councilors from Tijara were stopped by the Haryana police while returning from Shimla and that Congress councilors from Khairthal were harassed and pressured by the Khairthal police at Amer in Jaipur, where they were staying.

“This is not an election, but an attempt to win a mandate using the power of the government. It is an open violation of democratic norms and a blatant misuse of the government machinery,” he said in a statement.

Referring to Malakhera village in Alwar Rural Assembly constituency, Mr Jully alleged that Goods and Services Tax (GST) action had been initiated against Mahesh Chandra, a Congress councilor elected from Ward 13.

He alleged that revenue officials were being used to threaten to demolish the house of Manish Balai, a Congress councilor from Ward 5, to pressure him to vote for the BJP.

Mr. Jully said the BJP has only 2 councilors in Malakhera against the 11 required to form the council.

“How many will you intimidate? How many will you threaten?” he asked, addressing Chief Minister Bhadan Lal Sharma.

He alleged that the police and administration were used as instruments of political pressure to influence the election of heads of civic bodies.

“In the urban local body elections in the state, the Congress is directly fighting the police and the administration. The BJP is the third front,” Mr. Jully said.

The process of electing chairmen is going on in 309 urban local bodies across the state.

On Monday (September 21, 2026), elections for mayors, chairmen and chairmen of 305 municipal bodies, including seven city corporations, will be held, followed by elections for deputy mayors, vice-chairmen and vice-chairmen on Tuesday (September 22, 2026).

Elections to the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor in Jaipur, Jodhpur and Kota Municipal Corporations and to the posts of Chairman and Deputy Chairman in Suket Municipality in Kota will be held on Friday (September 25, 2026).

Published – 21 Sep 2026 12:34 IST