Jaipur, April 24: Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday, accusing it of "murdering democracy" and weaponising central investigative agencies against political opponents. His remarks came in direct response to reports that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha had joined the BJP, further intensifying the political storm around party-switching in Indian politics.

Gehlot's 'Washing Machine' Allegation Against BJP

Speaking to reporters at Jaipur Airport, Gehlot deployed a pointed metaphor to describe what he called the BJP's strategy of using enforcement agencies to coerce opposition leaders and then absorbing them into its own ranks. "All agencies are under their control. MPs are being targeted through raids and false cases," he said.

"Earlier, leaders like Raghav Chadha were harassed, and many were implicated in the Delhi liquor scam case. Now, after passing through their 'washing machine', everyone is declared clean," the veteran Congress leader stated. He added that once politicians enter this so-called washing machine, all pending cases against them miraculously disappear.

This allegation is not new in Indian political discourse — the "washing machine" metaphor has been widely used by opposition parties to describe a pattern where leaders facing agency scrutiny switch to the BJP and subsequently see their legal troubles diminish. Gehlot argued this pattern was now playing out visibly with Raghav Chadha's entry into the BJP fold.

Horse-Trading Allegations and Rajasthan's Political History

Gehlot also revisited the turbulent political crisis that rocked his own government in 2020, when a rebellion led by then-Deputy CM Sachin Pilot nearly brought down the Congress administration. "We were forced to stay in a hotel for 34 days due to their attempts at horse-trading," he recalled, blaming the BJP for engineering the destabilisation attempt.

Without naming Sachin Pilot directly, Gehlot acknowledged the political pressure to do so, saying, "They want me to explicitly name Sachin Pilot, hoping it will trigger a conflict within our party ranks. I lay the blame squarely on the BJP." He accused the BJP of poaching Congress members in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh, and claimed similar attempts were made in Rajasthan.

Notably, the Madhya Pradesh political crisis of 2020 — which brought down the Kamal Nath government — and the Maharashtra Shiv Sena split of 2022 are frequently cited by Congress as textbook examples of BJP-engineered defections, a charge the BJP consistently denies.

West Bengal Voter Turnout and Election Commission Under Fire

Gehlot also raised serious concerns over the reported record voter turnout in West Bengal local body elections, questioning the Election Commission of India's role. He referenced the Calcutta High Court's remarks rebuking authorities over a ban on motorcycles during polling.

"Even the High Court is reprimanding them; it is simply incomprehensible what the Election Commission is trying to convey," he said. He alleged that voter lists were manipulated through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) system and warned that the full picture would emerge by May 4 when results are declared.

The SIR process has itself been a flashpoint — opposition parties across states have alleged that it was used selectively to delete voter names, a charge that election authorities have denied. The Calcutta High Court's intervention adds judicial weight to concerns about the conduct of these elections.

Bomb Threats to Rajasthan Institutions: Gehlot Questions Law and Order

Turning to the security situation in Rajasthan, Gehlot questioned the BJP-led state government's ability to maintain law and order, citing a series of bomb threats targeting key institutions including the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, the High Court, and Collectorate offices.

"Despite six months having passed, the culprits still haven't been apprehended. Does the very concept of administration or rule of law even exist in Rajasthan anymore?" he asked, directing his criticism at Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Rajasthan BJP Chief Madan Rathore.

He expressed particular alarm that even CM Bhajan Lal Sharma himself had received threats, calling it a deeply distressing failure of governance in an era of advanced surveillance and high-tech policing capabilities.

Congress Strategy: Strengthening Ground in Mewar and Marwar

On the organisational front, Gehlot outlined the Congress party's renewed focus on strengthening its base across all regions of Rajasthan, including historically significant areas like Mewar and Marwar. "We are working across Rajasthan and will address our weak areas with full commitment," he said.

With Rajasthan Assembly by-elections and future electoral cycles on the horizon, the Congress appears to be recalibrating its ground-level strategy. Gehlot's public statements signal that the party intends to keep the pressure on the Bhajan Lal Sharma government on issues of governance, security, and democratic integrity. As political temperatures rise nationally — particularly with the AAP-BJP realignment reshaping opposition dynamics — the coming weeks will be critical in determining how India's multi-party landscape evolves.