Gehlot: MPs, MLAs bought and sold like livestock, democracy at risk
Synopsis
Ashok Gehlot's livestock analogy for political defections is blunt by design — and the numbers he cited from West Bengal, 60 of 80 MLAs and 20 of 28 MPs allegedly peeled away, are staggering if verified. With 'Operation Lotus' fears resurfacing in Rajasthan, the Congress is framing defection politics as an existential threat to Indian democracy, not just a party problem.
Key Takeaways
Former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot on 24 June alleged that MPs and MLAs are being 'bought and sold' like livestock.
Gehlot claimed that in West Bengal , 60 of 80 MLAs and 20 of 28 MPs had defected, with 6 more MPs leaving on Monday.
Remarks were made in response to questions about whether ' Operation Lotus ' is active again in Rajasthan .
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has launched a nationwide campaign to 'save the Constitution,' including a programme in Kota .
Gehlot flagged the gap between money collected from students and government spending on education, citing NEET pressure as a key concern.
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday alleged that India's democratic framework is under serious threat, claiming that elected representatives — Members of Parliament and state legislators — are being traded like commodities in a political marketplace. His remarks came in Jaipur in response to questions about whether 'Operation Lotus' was once again being activated in Rajasthan.
What Gehlot Said
'Today, MPs and MLAs are being bought and sold in the same manner as horses, donkeys, buffaloes and goats are traded. This is the situation to which our democracy has been reduced,' the veteran Congress leader said. He argued that political defections across the country reveal a disturbing pattern that systematically undermines the democratic mandate given by voters.
West Bengal Cited as Evidence
Gehlot pointed to recent developments in West Bengal as a case in point. 'Out of 80 MLAs, 60 were split away. Out of 28 MPs, 20 disappeared, and on Monday, six more MPs left. These developments raise serious questions about the health of our democratic system,' he said. The figures, if accurate, would represent one of the largest single-state defection episodes in recent Indian political history.
Warning to the Public and Youth
Gehlot issued a pointed warning about the consequences of public disengagement. 'If the public does not wake up and if the younger generation does not come forward to defend democratic principles, then it is difficult to predict what the future of this country will look like,' he said. This comes amid a broader Indian National Congress (INC) campaign, led by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, to 'save the Constitution' and highlight issues facing India's youth.
Kota Programme and Education Concerns
Gehlot also referenced a recent event held in Kota — a city synonymous with India's high-pressure coaching culture — as part of Gandhi's nationwide outreach. He said the programme spotlighted the financial burden placed on students, particularly around the NEET examination, and highlighted the gap between revenue collected from students and actual government expenditure on education. 'What could be more shameful than this?' he said, calling the disparity 'deeply concerning.'
Political Context
The term 'Operation Lotus' has historically referred to alleged attempts by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to engineer defections in opposition-held assemblies — a charge the BJP has denied. Gehlot himself survived a high-profile political crisis in Rajasthan in 2020 when a rebellion within his own party threatened his government. His remarks on 24 June suggest the Congress believes a similar playbook may be in motion again. With assembly and parliamentary arithmetic remaining fluid in several states, the allegation is likely to intensify political scrutiny in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
But the more consequential claim is the West Bengal defection count — 60 of 80 MLAs and 20 of 28 MPs. If those figures hold up to scrutiny, they represent a structural collapse of opposition representation, not merely a political wobble. The Congress has consistently raised 'Operation Lotus' as a rallying cry without always backing it with verifiable outcomes; this time, the specificity of the numbers invites independent fact-checking. More broadly, India's anti-defection law has long been criticised as toothless against engineered floor-crossings — Gehlot's outburst is as much an indictment of that legal gap as it is a partisan attack.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Ashok Gehlot say about MPs and MLAs being bought and sold?
Gehlot alleged on 24 June in Jaipur that elected representatives are being traded like livestock, saying 'MPs and MLAs are being bought and sold in the same manner as horses, donkeys, buffaloes and goats are traded.' He made the remarks in response to questions about whether 'Operation Lotus' is active again in Rajasthan.
What is 'Operation Lotus' and why is it relevant?
'Operation Lotus' is a term used by opposition parties to describe alleged BJP-backed efforts to engineer defections in opposition-held state assemblies. Gehlot himself faced a similar crisis in Rajasthan in 2020. His latest remarks suggest the Congress believes a comparable strategy may be underway again.
What defection figures did Gehlot cite from West Bengal?
Gehlot claimed that out of 80 MLAs, 60 were split away, and out of 28 MPs, 20 had left — with six more departing as recently as Monday. These figures have not been independently verified and should be treated as Gehlot's claims.
What was the Kota programme Gehlot referred to?
The Kota event was part of a nationwide campaign led by Congress's Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to 'save the Constitution' and address youth concerns. Key issues discussed included student pressure around the NEET examination and the gap between education revenue collected and actual government spending.
Who is affected by the political defections Gehlot described?
Gehlot argued that all Indian citizens are affected, as defections undermine the democratic mandate of voters. He specifically called on the public and the younger generation to engage and defend democratic principles.
