CM Bhajan Lal leads Kota padyatra, hits Congress over Emergency
Synopsis
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma led a padyatra in Kota under the 'Save Democracy-Remove Anarchy' banner, invoking the 1975 Emergency to attack Congress and pledging that PM Modi will remain in power until India's 'Viksit Bharat' vision is realised.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma participated in a padyatra from Seven Wonders Park to Chhawni Chowraha in Kota on 30 October 2026 .
The event was held under the 'Loktantra Bachao-Anarchata Hatao' (Save Democracy-Remove Anarchy) programme.
Sharma invoked the 1975–77 Emergency imposed by the Congress government to argue the party has a record of tampering with constitutional arrangements.
He directly addressed opponents, warning that PM Narendra Modi would remain in power until the Viksit Bharat (Developed India) mission is complete.
Rajasthan BJP state president Madan Rathore was among the senior leaders present at the march.
BJP framed the large public turnout as evidence of citizens' resolve to defend democratic institutions.
A sea of BJP workers marching from Seven Wonders Park to Chhawni Chowraha in Kota on Friday, 30 October 2026 — that was the image Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma wanted the country to see, and it anchored his sharpest attack on Congress yet. The rally was the centrepiece of the 'Loktantra Bachao-Anarchata Hatao' ('Save Democracy-Remove Anarchy') programme, and Sharma was its loudest voice.
From Seven Wonders Park to a pointed political declaration
Translating his post, Sharma declared: 'Desh ka loktantrik itihas Congress ke satta moh, aapatkaal aur samvaidhanik vyavasthaon ke saath kiye gaye khilwaad ka saakshi raha hai' — 'The democratic history of this country has witnessed Congress's power hunger, the Emergency, and its reckless tampering with constitutional arrangements.' The line was deliberate. BJP leaders have long drawn a straight line between the 1975–77 Emergency — imposed by the Congress government under Indira Gandhi, suspending civil liberties and jailing opposition leaders — and what they frame as the party's present instincts. Sharma invoked that history not as a museum exhibit but as a live warning.
He then turned to the present, arguing that Congress continues to 'attempt to influence public trust and democratic institutions for its own political self-interest.' The framing is a recurring BJP motif nationally, but in Rajasthan it carries extra electoral charge: the BJP won the state in December 2023, unseating Congress, and the party is keen to cement its narrative dominance before the next cycle.
A direct message to those 'dreaming' of removing Modi
The most pointed passage was a direct address to political opponents: 'Those who dream of removing respected Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi must clearly understand — until the resolve of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) is fulfilled, Modi ji is not going anywhere.' The formulation does double duty — it rallies the base around PM Modi while framing the BJP's long-term governance ambition as a non-negotiable national mission rather than a partisan project.
Sharma closed with a pledge: 'Public trust and the dignity of democracy are paramount, and our struggle against every tendency that weakens them will continue uninterrupted.' Rajasthan BJP state president Madan Rathore was present alongside other elected representatives and dignitaries, lending the event an all-party-leadership weight beyond a single minister's outing.
Why Kota, and what the crowd signals
Kota, Rajasthan's industrial and coaching hub on the Chambal river, is a bellwether city — economically significant, politically contested, and large enough that a padyatra there reads statewide. Sharma explicitly cited the 'flood of people' (janasailaab) at the march as proof of public 'alertness against such politics and firm resolve to protect democracy.' Whether the turnout translates into sustained mobilisation across Rajasthan's other urban centres is the next test — and BJP's opponents will be watching the response carefully.
For now, the ruling party in Jaipur has put down a marker: the Emergency's ghost is back in active political circulation, and it intends to keep it there.
Point of View
Bhajan Lal Sharma is executing a well-worn but durable BJP playbook: tie Congress's present opposition to its most historically discredited moment. The move is also a loyalty signal to national BJP leadership — publicly wrapping PM Modi's political longevity in the language of constitutional duty rather than electoral calculation. With Rajasthan won in December 2023 and the next state cycle still distant, events like these serve primarily as base-activation and narrative-setting exercises, designed to keep Congress on the defensive in a state where the memory of Emergency-era politics retains resonance among older voters.
NationPress
30 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Loktantra Bachao-Anarchata Hatao' programme?
'Loktantra Bachao-Anarchata Hatao' means 'Save Democracy-Remove Anarchy' in English. It is a BJP political programme that held a padyatra (foot march) in Kota, Rajasthan on 30 October 2026, led by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, to mobilise citizens against what the party calls Congress's anti-democratic tendencies.
Why do BJP leaders keep bringing up the 1975 Emergency?
The 1975–77 Emergency was imposed by the Congress government under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, suspending civil liberties and imprisoning opposition figures. BJP leaders regularly reference it to contrast their governance record with Congress's and to frame the opposition as historically hostile to democratic institutions.
Who is Madan Rathore and why was he at the Kota event?
Madan Rathore is the president of the Rajasthan BJP state unit. His presence at the Kota padyatra alongside CM Bhajan Lal Sharma signalled that the march carried the full weight of the party's state leadership, not just the government.
What did CM Bhajan Lal Sharma say about PM Modi at the Kota rally?
Sharma said that those dreaming of removing PM Narendra Modi should understand clearly that Modi will not go anywhere until the 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) vision is fulfilled. He framed Modi's continuation in power as tied to India's long-term development mission.
Where exactly was the padyatra held in Kota?
The padyatra in Kota on 30 October 2026 was held from Seven Wonders Park to Chhawni Chowraha (Cantonment Crossing), two well-known landmarks in the city.
