The assault on Bikaner City Congress District President Madan Gopal Meghwal in Rajasthan has taken a sharp new turn, with the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) suspending a father-son duo from the party for six years and ordering a formal inquiry into the alleged role of Mahila Congress leader Shashikala Rathore. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday during the inauguration of an election office in Ward No. 50 of the Bikaner Municipal Corporation, has exposed deepening internal fault lines within the Congress organisation in the district.

How the Assault Unfolded

Meghwal had attended the Ward No. 50 election office inauguration as the chief guest when a verbal altercation broke out among local party leaders and workers. The dispute rapidly escalated into a physical confrontation, during which Meghwal was allegedly assaulted, triggering chaos at the venue. Senior leaders and workers present intervened to restore order. Videos purportedly showing the incident have since surfaced and are being widely circulated on social media.

Party's Disciplinary Action

Moving swiftly, the Rajasthan PCC suspended the father-son duo accused of involvement in the assault with immediate effect, barring them from the party for six years. The action signals that the state leadership is treating the incident as a serious breach of party discipline rather than a local squabble.

Mahila Congress Leader Named in Complaint

In a written complaint, Meghwal alleged that Shashikala Rathore, president of the Bikaner City Mahila Congress, was linked to the alleged conspiracy behind the assault. The allegation has not been established, and Rathore has not publicly responded to it so far. Following the complaint, the PCC directed Sarika Singh, State President of the Mahila Congress, to conduct a detailed inquiry into Rathore's alleged role and submit her findings to PCC headquarters within two days.

Notably, it was Singh herself who appointed Rathore as Bikaner City Mahila Congress president during an organisational reshuffle in July 2025. Rathore formally assumed charge in September 2025 at the Nari Nyay Sammelan, having previously served as president of the Bikaner Dehat (Rural) Mahila Congress. She is regarded locally as being associated with a faction of senior Congress leaders in the district.

Political Fallout in Bikaner and Jaipur

The allegations against Rathore have triggered significant discussion within Congress circles in both Bikaner and Jaipur. This comes amid broader concerns about factional rivalries within the Rajasthan Congress, which has struggled to present a unified front since losing power in the state. The inquiry report is now awaited by Congress leaders and workers as the factor that will determine the next course of disciplinary action — including whether Rathore faces formal proceedings.

What Happens Next

The PCC is expected to take further action based on Sarika Singh's inquiry report. Any disciplinary step against Rathore will depend entirely on the investigation's findings. With the Bikaner Municipal Corporation elections in focus — the assault itself occurred at a ward-level election office inauguration — the episode threatens to deepen divisions at a politically sensitive moment for the Congress in Rajasthan.