Rajkumar Roat, MP and founder of the Bharat Adivasi Party, rejected Congress assertions that roughly 300 BAP workers had joined the party. He stated that only a small number of individuals linked to BAP had switched and accused Congress of inflating the figures to shape a political story.
His remarks followed claims by Congress leaders that about 300 BAP members joined at former chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s Jaipur residence on Thursday. Participants received Congress scarves as a sign of support. The event was presented as evidence of declining BAP influence in its core areas.
BAP leaders countered that when Mahendrajeet Malviya moved from Congress to BJP in March 2024, over 400 Congress workers from Banswara accompanied him. They added that those now returning to Congress came from BJP ranks, not BAP.
Roat noted that Congress must clarify whether it opposes BJP or BAP. He said the party has felt uneasy about BAP’s role since the start and pointed to past instances where Congress backed BJP in local polls. He stressed the need to focus on ground-level work rather than politicising events. Few actual BAP members attended the Jaipur gathering, and some who joined had earlier been suspended from BAP.
BAP leaders argued that Congress seeks to project weakness ahead of upcoming Panchayati Raj and urban local body elections.
Congress spokespersons declined to comment.
The Rajasthan government and State Election Commission informed the Rajasthan High Court about schedules for urban local body and Panchayat polls, after which the court closed the related petition.
Under the timeline, the OBC Commission must submit its report on OBC reservations by August 5. Urban local body election notifications will be issued on August 17, with nominations starting August 22. The full urban poll process ends by September 20.
Panchayat election notifications follow on September 23, with completion by November 15.
Congress spokesperson Swarnim Chaturvedi criticised the state government for delaying local elections and referenced the BJP’s “One Nation, One Election” idea. He argued that a party unable to synchronise even local polls should not pursue simultaneous national elections.
The BJP has not responded to the comments.
