Rajasthan panchayat polls — Cong fears rout

JAIPUR, DEC 21: Congress members of Parliament and the Vidhan Sabha on Monday warned the party leadership of a rough time in the coming panchayat elections in Rajasthan if the present power crisis in the state persisted.They gave vent to their ire over the issue at a joint meeting of MPs, MLAs, state party executives, district presidents and prominent leaders, held to discuss the arrangements being made for organisational elections in the state. The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, state Congress president Girija Vyas, AICC secretary Sudhir Sawant and state election authority chairperson Urmilaben Patel.

According to sources, several leaders told Gehlot and Vyas in plain terms that Congress MPs and MLAs may find it difficult to enter villages if the ongoing shortage of electricity was not brought to an end before the panchayat polls. Some even suggested that the government may explore the possibility of postponing the elections if the crisis could not be overcome.

Former Unionminister Sheesh Ram Ola, MP, said people were agitated over the fact that the government were continuing to increase electricity rates while the supply position remained bad. He wondered if it would be possible for the Congress to face the panchayat elections in the present situation.