Sayed Habib, Jaipur.
The monsoon session of the Rajasthan Assembly descended into chaos on its very first day. Congress legislators raised slogans of “Vote chor, gaddi chhod” (Vote thief, step down), while the BJP countered with chants of “Gaali-baaz Rahul Gandhi” (Abusive Rahul Gandhi). Despite repeated interventions by the Speaker, order could not be restored, and the atmosphere in the House kept heating up.
Congress accused the Election Commission and the government of vote rigging, while the BJP shifted the debate toward Rahul Gandhi’s choice of words and speaking style. In the midst of the uproar, the opposition also questioned the government’s sensitivity over paying tribute to victims of the Jhalawar tragedy. Issues like the Khejri Protection Law and the SI recruitment controversy also echoed in the House.
Congress’ “Vote Theft” Narrative
On the very first day, Congress MLAs waved placards and raised slogans—“Vote chor, gaddi chhod.” This was not merely noise, but a calculated political strategy. Under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, the Congress has been consistently raising the issue of “electoral theft” across the country. Continuing this line in the Assembly, Sachin Pilot said, “Some people repeatedly try to steal votes to form the government. Congress will not tolerate this.”
This message is not confined to Rajasthan’s politics alone. Congress aims to turn it into a national issue, crafting a political explanation for its defeats in both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
BJP’s Counter Strategy – “Abusive Rahul Gandhi”
The BJP legislators responded with equal aggression. The slogan that dominated the treasury benches was—“Gaali-baaz Rahul Gandhi.” Chief Whip Jagdish Garg reinforced this before the media, stating, “The abusive nature of Congress is well-documented, and there are videos as evidence.”
Here, the BJP’s strategy was clear—it did not directly address the Congress’ allegations of vote theft and bias of the Election Commission. Instead, it sought to divert the debate to Rahul Gandhi’s style of speech, pushing the discussion toward an emotional and personal battlefield.
Speaker’s Displeasure – Dignity of the House at Stake
Speaker Vasudev Devnani had to repeatedly intervene to calm both sides. His remark—“This House cannot function like a marketplace or a street corner”—was a direct indication of the falling decorum of the Assembly. Political analysts note that managing the House has become increasingly difficult for any Speaker, as both sides remain so rigid in their positions that legislative business is inevitably sacrificed at the altar of disruption.
Opposition’s Emotional Pitch – The Jhalawar Tragedy
Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully attacked the government, questioning why no tribute was paid to the innocent children who lost their lives in the Jhalawar school tragedy.Here, the Congress attempted to paint the ruling party as “insensitive.” While tributes were paid for major incidents and national-level tragedies, the neglect of a local disaster allowed the opposition to insert a humane angle into its political strategy.
A Spectrum of Issues – From Khejri Protection to SI Recruitment
Amid the chaos, other voices also emerged in the Assembly. Independent MLA Ravindra Singh Bhati demanded a law for the protection of Khejri trees, even displaying posters inside the House. On the SI recruitment issue, the Minister of State for Home referred to the court’s directions, assuring that while action would be taken against the guilty, the innocent would not be harassed.
These points highlighted that, while the overarching narrative in the House revolved around “Vote Theft vs. Abusive Politics,” efforts were also made to bring up local and administrative concerns.
The Real Picture – A Game of Political Gains and Losses
Congress’ Attempt: To ensure that the Assembly session remains focused on “vote theft” and the alleged bias of the Election Commission, thereby continuing to question the legitimacy of BJP’s victories.
BJP’s Strategy: To weaken Rahul Gandhi’s image and portray the Congress as a party of abuse, thus deflecting attention away from the core allegations.
For the public, the message was clear: the Assembly is likely to be dominated more by slogan-shouting and political one-upmanship than by meaningful discussions on development or legislation.
What Lies Ahead – More Ruckus, Less Debate
The first day of the monsoon session has set the tone: expect more uproar and less debate in the days to come. Both ruling and opposition benches have locked in their narratives—
Congress will persist with its “Vote Theft” charge.
BJP will consistently respond with the “Abusive Rahul Gandhi” line.
Whether issues like the protection of Khejri trees, the SI recruitment controversy, or the pain of the Jhalawar tragedy will get any space depends entirely on how much the two main parties allow these voices to surface—or bury them under the din of political sloganeering.
