Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Wednesday, 30 September launched a sharp attack on the Congress at a public gathering in Bachhdau, Barmer, alleging that the previous Congress-led state government had reduced Rajasthan to the state of a 'dilapidated house' and that its leaders were driven purely by self-interest. The visit also saw the Chief Minister lay foundation stones and inaugurate 1,013 development projects worth ₹2,824 crore.

Arrival and Reception at Bachhdau

Chief Minister Sharma arrived at Bachhdau at approximately 2 pm and was received at the helipad by Minister of State KK Vishnoi and Chouhtan MLA Aduram Meghwal. Also present were Barmer MLA Priyanka Chaudhary, Siwana MLA Hamir Singh, Jaisalmer MLA Chhotu Singh, Pokaran MLA Mahant Pratap Puri, and Farmers' Commission Chairman CR Chaudhary. Barmer District Collector Chinmayi Gopal and District Superintendent of Police Chunaram also welcomed the Chief Minister, who was accorded a traditional reception featuring the Gair dance.

Key Attacks on the Previous Government

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sharma said the Congress had left Rajasthan in the condition of a 'dilapidated house.' He added, 'People associated with Congress are loyal to no one; they are selfish.' He also targeted the previous administration over recurring paper leaks during competitive examinations, asking the crowd whether such leaks had occurred under the current Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government — a question the audience reportedly answered in the negative.

Sharma further claimed that Rajasthan had transformed from a state dependent on electricity imported from outside to one that now supplies power to others — a claim he has made at previous public engagements in the state as well.

Development Announcements and Projects

The Chief Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 1,013 development projects valued at ₹2,824 crore during the Bachhdau programme. He pledged that not a single gram panchayat in Rajasthan would be without a sports ground, and announced the establishment of Atal Gyan Kendras in villages across the state. These centres are intended to provide e-learning facilities to rural youth as part of the state government's broader rural development roadmap. Sharma also reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring paved roads in every village and strengthening infrastructure in rural areas including education and other basic amenities.

He also noted that additional development works would be announced or dedicated for the eight districts of the Jodhpur division during the visit.

Political Context: Panchayati Raj Elections in View

The Bachhdau visit is part of a wider political and administrative tour that comes directly ahead of the upcoming Panchayati Raj elections in Rajasthan. Before the public meeting, Chief Minister Sharma met with BJP office-bearers and workers from Barmer, Balotra, and Jaisalmer to discuss preparations for the rural local-body polls. His recent tours of the state have consistently combined public meetings, project inaugurations, and party-level consultations — a pattern that signals the BJP's ground-level mobilisation ahead of the elections. Following the Bachhdau programme, the Chief Minister was scheduled to travel to Sumerpur in Pali.

With rural elections approaching, the BJP's focus on visible development deliverables and anti-Congress messaging in districts like Barmer — historically competitive territory — underscores the party's strategy of combining governance optics with political outreach.