The political atmosphere in Jodhpur's Mathania turned volatile on the final day of nominations for the Mathania Municipality elections. A major controversy erupted when the current Osian MLA, Bhairaram Siyol, entered the chamber of the Returning Officer (RO) after the official deadline for nominations had passed, while this move sparked an immediate and fierce reaction from former MLA Divya Maderna, who questioned the integrity of the electoral process and accused the administration of favoring the ruling party representative. The incident led to a high-voltage drama, with Maderna and her supporters staging a sit-in protest (dharna) at the site, demanding accountability from the officials involved.
The Core of the Dispute
The trouble began on Monday as the clock struck 3 PM, marking the end of the nomination period. According to the established rules, no unauthorized person is permitted to enter the Returning Officer's chamber after this deadline. However, reports surfaced that MLA Bhairaram Siyol, accompanied by his supporters, entered the RO's office after 3 PM. Divya Maderna alleged that while the MLA was allowed inside, three Congress candidates who were present were forcibly removed by the police. She claimed that the police acted rudely and pushed the candidates out, which she termed as a direct assault on the fairness of the election.
Maderna Confronts the Administration
During the protest, Divya Maderna raised several pointed questions regarding the conduct of the officials. She mentioned that a Congress worker, Ajit Kachhwaha, had asked the police whether the individuals entering the chamber were government employees. Maderna herself contacted the RO via phone to inquire how the MLA was allowed inside. " Maderna took strong exception to this, questioning whether the MLA's presence was intended to influence the proceedings. She demanded to know if there is any rule that allows such entry after 3 PM and expressed her frustration over the lack of a clear response from the RO.
Heated Exchange with Police and RO
The situation escalated when Maderna entered RO Pankaj Jain's chamber to confront him directly. When she asked why the MLA was allowed and her workers were removed, Jain denied having ordered the removal of the workers. At this point, the workers clarified that it was the police who had pushed them out. When Mathania CI Tulsi arrived at the scene, Maderna didn't hold back. She reminded the CI that she had only arrived in the area 2 days ago and threatened to take the matter to the Director General of Police (DGP). Maderna alleged that the MLA had made significant efforts at the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) to secure the CI's posting and warned that any irregularities at the police station would be dealt with strictly. "I don't want to take anyone's job, but you're in the wrong," Maderna told the CI before leaving the spot.
MLA Siyol's Counter-Attack
On the other side, MLA Bhairaram Siyol dismissed the allegations as a tactic to distract from internal issues within the Congress party. Siyol explained that his visit to the RO was merely to inquire about the number of forms submitted and to ensure that the process was proceeding peacefully, while he claimed he left the chamber shortly after. Siyol further alleged that there is significant resentment among original Congress workers because Maderna had denied them tickets for the Mathania and Tiwari Municipalities. He suggested that Maderna's protest was a way to divert attention from this internal strife. Siyol mockingly remarked that she should continue her dharna all night to get some "practice," adding that the Congress party has only enjoyed power and isn't used to protesting. He concluded by stating that Maderna is frustrated because she foresees a defeat in both municipalities.