BJP's Rathore hits back at Gehlot over delimitation, China MoU remarks
Synopsis
BJP Rajasthan chief Madan Rathore didn't just rebut Ashok Gehlot — he went on offence on three fronts: accusing Congress of manipulating delimitation during Gehlot's own tenure, demanding the party disclose an alleged MoU with China, and forcing Gehlot to answer the still-unresolved Sachin Pilot question. The salvo signals how the delimitation debate is rapidly becoming a national political flashpoint.
Key Takeaways
BJP Rajasthan State President Madan Rathore on 14 October launched a sharp counterattack on former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot .
Rathore alleged Gehlot oversaw politically motivated municipal delimitation and ward boundary manipulation during his own tenure as Chief Minister.
He demanded Congress disclose an alleged MoU with China , citing questions reportedly raised by the Supreme Court .
Rathore challenged Gehlot to publicly clarify his stance on former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot , calling out the Congress leader's comments on BJP's internal rebellion.
He accused the Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi , of obstructing the Women's Reservation Bill .
Rathore warned that Congress approaching the Supreme Court over delimitation risks undermining democratic institutions.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajasthan State President Madan Rathore on Wednesday, 14 October mounted a sharp counterattack on former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, asserting that Gehlot's recent statements on delimitation, women's reservation, and constitutional institutions expose his 'frustration' over the Congress party's deteriorating electoral standing in Rajasthan and across India. Rathore accused the senior Congress leader of making 'misleading' and 'irresponsible' remarks while conveniently sidestepping his own government's record.
Delimitation Charges and Counter-Charges
Rathore alleged that Gehlot's criticism of delimitation rings hollow given that the former Chief Minister had himself overseen the delimitation of municipal bodies during his tenure. According to Rathore, multiple municipal corporations were carved out across various cities for 'political reasons' — specifically to prevent the BJP from consolidating an advantage. He further alleged that the previous Congress government had manipulated ward boundaries to favour a particular community while undermining BJP's traditional strongholds. Rathore argued that delimitation alone could not account for the Congress party's 'prolonged electoral setbacks in several states', characterising such arguments as a deliberate distraction from organisational weaknesses.
The Sachin Pilot Question
Rathore turned the tables on Gehlot over the Congress leader's repeated references to internal rebellion within the BJP. He demanded that Gehlot first clarify his own stance on former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, whose 2020 revolt against Gehlot-led government created one of the most publicised intra-party crises in recent Rajasthan politics. 'Gehlot frequently questions the BJP about the rebellion against him by his own party colleagues. Yet, he has also attempted to project unity by appearing alongside those very leaders, whether on a motorcycle or before the party high command. He must clarify whether he stands with Sachin Pilot or continues to regard him as 'useless' and 'incompetent',' Rathore said.
Women's Reservation and PM Modi's Stance
Addressing Gehlot's comments on the Women's Reservation Bill and the proposed increase in the number of Lok Sabha and Assembly seats through delimitation, Rathore alleged the former Chief Minister was 'speaking without complete information'. He invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for political consensus on the Women's Reservation Bill, saying the Prime Minister had urged all parties to support the legislation and take credit for advancing women's empowerment rather than obstructing it. Rathore went on to allege that the Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi, had actively 'hindered efforts' to ensure greater representation for women in Parliament and state legislatures.
Congress-China MoU in the Crosshairs
In a notably pointed line of attack, Rathore questioned Gehlot over his references to China and demanded that the Congress make public what he described as a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the party and the Chinese side. He referred to questions reportedly raised by the Supreme Court regarding an agreement between a political party in India and a foreign government or political party. 'If Gehlot is a senior national leader who is genuinely concerned about the country, he should ensure that the agreement with China is made public. The people have a right to know what it contains,' Rathore said. The Congress had not publicly responded to these specific allegations at the time of this report.
BJP's Institutional Warning
Rathore also addressed the Congress's reported intention to approach the Supreme Court over delimitation-related issues, cautioning that 'undermining institutional processes could weaken the country's democratic framework and create an atmosphere of disorder'. He argued that democratic institutions have established procedures and constitutional responsibilities that all political parties must respect. Closing his remarks with a direct accusation, Rathore said, 'Congress respects neither the mandate of the people nor the provisions of the Constitution drafted under the leadership of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar.' The BJP's broadside signals that as the delimitation debate intensifies nationally, Rajasthan will remain a key political battleground in the run-up to future assembly cycles.
Point of View
The BJP seeks to neutralise one of the Opposition's most potent arguments before it gains traction. The China MoU allegation, while unverified in this report, is a calculated escalation designed to shift the Congress from accuser to defendant. Notably, Rathore's insistence that Gehlot answer the Pilot question exposes a genuine and unresolved contradiction within the Congress: the party has neither settled its Rajasthan leadership dispute nor distanced itself from the bitterness it generated. The BJP, once fractured in the state itself, is now in a position to remind voters of Congress's internal disarray — a strategic advantage it will likely press hard as delimitation moves closer to implementation.
NationPress
14 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did BJP's Madan Rathore attack Ashok Gehlot on delimitation?
Rathore attacked Gehlot on delimitation because the former Chief Minister had been publicly criticising the process, while Rathore alleged that Gehlot himself oversaw politically motivated municipal delimitation and ward boundary manipulation during his own tenure. Rathore argued that Congress was invoking delimitation to distract from its organisational weaknesses and successive electoral defeats.
What is the Congress-China MoU that BJP raised?
BJP's Madan Rathore demanded that Congress disclose what he described as a memorandum of understanding signed between the party and China, referring to questions reportedly raised by the Supreme Court regarding an agreement between an Indian political party and a foreign government or party. Congress had not publicly responded to this specific allegation at the time of this report.
What did Rathore say about Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot?
Rathore challenged Gehlot to clarify his position on former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, whose 2020 revolt against Gehlot's government is one of the most publicised intra-party crises in recent Rajasthan politics. He pointed out that Gehlot had simultaneously questioned BJP's internal rebellion while appearing publicly alongside Pilot, asking whether Gehlot still considers him 'useless' and 'incompetent'.
What is BJP's position on the Women's Reservation Bill?
Rathore cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for political consensus on the Women's Reservation Bill, saying Modi had urged all parties to support it rather than obstruct women's empowerment. He alleged that the Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi, had actively hindered efforts to ensure greater representation for women in Parliament and state legislatures.
Why is delimitation politically sensitive in Rajasthan?
Delimitation — the redrawing of electoral constituency boundaries — can significantly alter political advantages by changing voter compositions in seats. In Rajasthan, the BJP and Congress have traded accusations of manipulating delimitation of municipal bodies for partisan gain, making it a live flashpoint as the national delimitation exercise for Lok Sabha and Assembly seats draws nearer.
