In a candid admission of internal challenges, Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra on Friday pointed to a major weakness plaguing the party's functionaries. He stated that a significant drawback is the tendency of leaders, MLAs, and MPs to focus excessively on keeping their own political seats "100% safe," often extending this security to their children.
The Core Weakness: Self-Preservation Over Party Strength
Addressing a gathering of panchayati raj public representatives at the Constitution Club in Jaipur, Dotasra elaborated on this critical issue. He explained that this mindset leads to a fragile foundation at the local level. "The foundation that local leaders, such as block leaders, village heads, and district parishad members, want to establish will not be very strong; it will crumble," he said.
Dotasra clarified he was not targeting any individual but highlighting a systemic flaw in political culture. The fear of being replaced, he argued, drives leaders to promote individuals who pose no challenge to their authority, ultimately weakening the party's grassroots structure.
Call for Cooperation and Merit in Panchayat Polls
Emphasizing the importance of panchayati raj institutions, Dotasra noted that many Congress leaders have risen from these bodies to become MLAs and MPs. He urged current MPs and MLAs to collaborate closely with local representatives to strengthen the party's ground-level hold.
He issued a clear directive for the upcoming panchayati raj elections, stating that the party must ensure no deserving person is left behind. Loyalty and honest work for the party's ideology, whether in organizational roles or positions of power, should be recognized and rewarded.
Accusations Against BJP Government
Shifting focus to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Dotasra launched a sharp critique of its policies affecting rural governance. He alleged that nowhere in the country has such "dishonest delimitation" of panchayats been carried out as in Rajasthan.
He accused the BJP government of stalling rural development under the guise of 'One Nation, One Election' and the delimitation exercise. According to him, the state government dealt a severe blow to Rajasthan's interests by not conducting timely panchayati raj elections.
Dotasra claimed the Centre dealt a second blow by effectively shutting down the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme. He linked this to the state's precarious financial health, revealing that Rajasthan's debt stands at a staggering Rs 1.25 lakh crore, a situation so dire that the state government struggles to pay employee salaries, let alone fund state schemes.
He concluded with a strong allegation, stating, "Therefore, the Centre finished MGNREGA to end the rights of the poor under a well-planned conspiracy." His remarks underscore the deepening political rift over rural employment and governance in the state.
