Rajasthan News: 'Mahabharat' over Congress tickets! Ramlal Jat and Dheeraj Gurjar clash in Ajmer

Jaipur: Even before the official announcement of candidates for the municipal body elections, the battle for tickets has heated up the political atmosphere within the Congress party. Internal infighting regarding ticket distribution in Ajmer came to the fore when former Minister Ramlal Jat and former MLA Dheeraj Gurjar clashed. It is reported that in the presence of State Congress President Govind Singh Dotasara, the two leaders engaged in a heated argument that quickly escalated to alleged verbal abuse.

This incident has exposed the factionalism within the Congress and the growing anxiety surrounding ticket allocation. While the party is in the final stages of deliberating on the names of official candidates, ticket aspirants and their supporters are busy exerting pressure through their respective leaders.

Clash over tickets; confrontation between leaders intensifies

During discussions regarding tickets in Ajmer, differences emerged between Ramlal Jat and Dheeraj Gurjar over a specific aspirant's name. The argument between the two leaders intensified to the point where the atmosphere of the meeting became tense.

Leaders and party workers present at the scene intervened to bring the situation under control. However, the entire episode brought the internal tussle over ticket distribution into the public eye.

The question now is not merely who will receive the ticket, but also which leaders and factions will remain loyal to the party after being denied one.

Protest in Ward 45: Tyres burned; anger spills onto the streets over ticket allocation

Dissatisfaction regarding tickets in Ajmer was not limited to closed-door meetings. Even before the official Congress candidate list was released, reports emerged of party workers staging a protest in Ward 45 by burning tyres to oppose the allocation of the ticket to an 'outsider' candidate. Party workers allege that preference is being given to "outsiders" while overlooking local aspirants who have long been active within the party. Those protesting have demanded that the leadership reconsider the decision.

Meanwhile, there is talk of intensifying mobilization by supporters of various aspirants regarding ticket allocation in Wards 13, 15, 32, and 4. In several areas, party workers have openly come out in support of their preferred candidates.

One Ticket... Multiple Aspirants: A Major Challenge for Congress

The biggest challenge for the Congress in the civic body elections lies in wards where multiple strong contenders are vying for a single ticket. The party leadership faces the dual challenge of finalizing a candidate while simultaneously managing the other aspirants.

If denied a ticket, disgruntled aspirants might contest as independents or engage in sabotage. This is why the party leadership is exercising extreme caution regarding final decisions in contentious wards.

Tussle Between Jat and Gurjar Factions Adds to Unease

Developments in Ajmer and Malviya Nagar are being viewed in the context of the factionalism within the Congress. The visible conflict between Ramlal Jat and Dheeraj Gurjar suggests that ticket distribution is evolving from a mere candidate selection process into a battle for influence and dominance within the organization.

The challenge before the state leadership is clear: tickets must be allocated, but resentment must not be allowed to escalate into open rebellion.

Political Heat Rises Even Before the List is Released

The official Congress list has not yet been released, yet pressure regarding support, opposition, slogan-shouting, and candidacy claims is already visible in several wards. Consequently, there are fears that the situation could heat up further once the tickets are announced.

All eyes are now fixed on the official Congress list. Deciding whose name gets the final nod, determining who gets dropped, and seeing who raises the banner of revolt after being denied a ticket—this is where the real test for the Congress appears to begin ahead of the civic body elections.