BJP misusing government agencies to pressure elected councillors: Congress leader Jully

Congress leader Tikaram Jully alleged that the police and administration were being used as instruments of political pressure to influence the election of the heads of civic bodies. File | Photo Credit: PTI Tikaram Jully, the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly, on Monday (September 21, 2026) accused the BJP government in the State of misusing the police, administration and other government agencies to pressure elected councillors ahead of the formation of boards in urban local bodies.Mr. Jully alleged that councillors from Tijara were stopped by the Haryana Police while returning from Shimla, and that Congress councillors from Khairthal were being harassed and pressured by the Khairthal police in Amer in Jaipur, where they were staying.“This is not an election, but an attempt to capture the mandate using the power of the government. It is an open violation of democratic norms and blatant misuse of government machinery,” he said in a statement.Referring to the Malakhera municipality in the Alwar Rural Assembly constituency, Mr. Jully alleged that Goods and Services Tax (GST) action was initiated against Mahesh Chandra, the Congress councillor elected from Ward 13.He alleged that revenue officials were being used to threaten to demolish the house of Manish Balai, the Congress councillor from Ward 5, to pressure him into voting for the BJP.Mr. Jully said the BJP had only 2 councillors in Malakhera against the 11 required to form the board.“How many will you intimidate? How many will you threaten?” he asked, addressing Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.He alleged that the police and administration were being used as instruments of political pressure to influence the election of the heads of civic bodies.“In the urban local body elections in the State, the Congress is directly contesting against the police and administration. The BJP is the third front,” Mr. Jully said.The process of electing chairpersons is under way in 309 urban local bodies across the State.Elections for mayors, chairpersons and presidents in 305 urban local bodies, including seven municipal corporations, will be held on Monday (September 21, 2026), followed by elections for deputy mayors, vice-chairpersons and vice-presidents on Tuesday (September 22, 2026).Elections for the mayoral and deputy mayoral posts in the Jaipur, Jodhpur and Kota municipal corporations, and for the chairperson and vice-chairperson posts in Suket municipality in Kota, will be held on Friday (September 25, 2026). Published - September 21, 2026 12:34 pm IST