Jaipur, Aug 29 — Differences within the Rajasthan Congress over ticket distribution for the upcoming urban local body elections came to light during a meeting at the party’s war room in Jaipur.
Former minister Ramlal Jat and former MLA Dheeraj Gurjar reportedly engaged in a heated argument over ticket allocation for Bhilwara’s urban local bodies. The confrontation escalated into a bitter exchange of allegations, with both leaders allegedly using harsh language. Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra and Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully intervened to defuse the situation.
According to party sources, tensions surfaced soon after the meeting began. The two leaders were reluctant to participate in the discussion together as disagreements intensified. Jat allegedly accused Gurjar of being a “goon,” while Gurjar reportedly questioned Jat’s conduct and character. The verbal exchange continued until senior leaders stepped in.
The incident attracted the attention of several Congress leaders present in nearby rooms, who heard the raised voices and witnessed the tension. Neither Jat nor Gurjar has made a detailed on‑record statement about the altercation. Gurjar, however, acknowledged differences over ticket distribution but declined to elaborate.
The confrontation has highlighted factional differences within the Bhilwara Congress unit. Jat is considered close to former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, while Gurjar has been associated with Sachin Pilot. The two leaders have previously been at odds over local politics in Bhilwara, with differences between their camps visible during earlier election processes.
Both Jat and Gurjar were defeated in the 2023 Rajasthan Assembly elections. Gurjar contested from Sahada in Bhilwara district and lost to Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Gopichand Meena by 580 votes. Jat contested from Mandal and was defeated by BJP’s Udaylal Bhadana by a margin of 35,878 votes.
With nominations for the urban local body elections approaching their deadline, the latest confrontation has added to concerns within the Congress over factionalism and the possibility of rebellion among ticket aspirants.