Congress Ramps Up Marwar Strategy: Dotasra and Juli Visit, Gehlot Eyes Delhi

The political atmosphere in Rajasthan's Marwar region has witnessed a significant surge in activity recently, while although the inauguration of the refinery was postponed, the movements of Congress leaders in this belt have increased substantially. With three out of the four major faces of the Congress party scheduling visits to various districts in Marwar, the region has become the center of political attention. While other leaders focused on the ground in Marwar, Ashok Gehlot, a prominent leader hailing from this region, maintained his focus on the political developments in Delhi.

The Political Significance of Marwar and Seat Dynamics

Marwar holds immense prestige in Rajasthan's political landscape. Approximately 21 percent of the 200 assembly constituencies in the state fall within this region. Consequently, any major political party aiming for a strong presence in the Rajasthan Assembly focuses heavily on this one-fifth portion of the house. This is why parties like the Congress, BJP, and the newly formed RLP direct their full attention toward Marwar. Recently, the region has been in the spotlight due to the activities of both the Congress and the BJP.

Refinery Postponement and BJP's Initial Activity

Initially, the schedule for the inauguration of the Rajasthan refinery was finalized, leading to active participation from Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, other state ministers, and BJP State President Madan Rathore. However, the inauguration was postponed following a fire incident in a section of the refinery. Following this delay, Congress leaders ramped up their presence in Marwar. Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Juli conducted a two-day program in Pali and Sirohi, where he participated in organizational events and held public hearings. From the soil of Marwar, Juli launched a scathing attack on the state government.

Dotasra's Barmer-Jaisalmer Tour and Local Issues

As Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Juli departed from Sirohi for Udaipur, Rajasthan Congress State President Govind Singh Dotasra arrived in Barmer. In Barmer, Dotasra met with organizational leaders and workers, who urged him to resolve internal friction within the party, while subsequently, Dotasra attended an organizational program in Jaisalmer. During his tour, Dotasra targeted the government on several issues, including the refinery project and the upcoming local body elections, highlighting the party's stance on regional development.

Sachin Pilot’s Cancelled Visit and Gehlot’s Delhi Engagements

Congress National General Secretary and former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot was also scheduled to visit the Sanchore district in the Marwar region. However, due to a technical glitch in his aircraft, he was unable to reach the destination. Amidst these visits, a photograph from Delhi featuring Gehlot and Pilot shaking hands two days ago also became a topic of discussion in the region. Ashok Gehlot has been active in the national capital, attending the Congress OBC Advisory Committee meeting in the presence of Rahul Gandhi. During the meeting, Gehlot met with Rahul Gandhi, and his photograph with the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha was widely circulated.

There is a prevailing sentiment among the people of Marwar that even when Ashok Gehlot isn't physically present in the region, he keeps a close watch on every activity. Validating this sentiment, Gehlot described the tours of Congress leaders to Marwar and Mewar as highly significant, while he admitted that the Congress party has weakened in Marwar and emphasized that the party must focus on all parts of the state, including Marwar, Mewar, East, and West, to regain its strength.