Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, asserted that the state unit of the Indian National Congress is fully united and claimed that no force can prevent the party from forming the government in Rajasthan after the next Assembly elections. Gehlot made the remarks while addressing the media at the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (RPCC) headquarters in Jaipur, following an organisational meeting ahead of the upcoming Panchayati Raj elections.

Unity Message at the Core

'I have one thing to say. You always ask whether there is a lack of unity in the Congress. Today you have seen it, everyone is one and united. A Congress government will be formed next time; nothing can stop it,' Gehlot declared. He added that the question of factionalism within the state Congress would no longer arise, arguing the party had visibly demonstrated its cohesion. This comes amid long-standing perceptions — shaped by his public feud with former deputy Sachin Pilot — of a divided Rajasthan Congress, making the unity narrative a deliberate political reframing ahead of electoral cycles.

Allegations of 'Barabandi' and Civic Poll Conduct

Gehlot alleged that the level of 'hooliganism' witnessed during the recently concluded urban local body elections was unprecedented in Rajasthan since Independence. He claimed that winning Congress councillors were taken away to camps — a practice referred to as 'barabandi' — and warned that such tactics could be repeated in the upcoming Panchayati Raj polls. 'If Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma is honest, he should impose a complete ban on barabandi in the upcoming Panchayat elections. But he will not do so,' he said. The term barabandi refers to keeping elected representatives in designated locations to prevent them from being approached or persuaded by rival groups.

Contesting BJP's Civic Election Narrative

Gehlot challenged the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) attempt to frame the urban civic election results as a sweeping victory for Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma. He said the difference between the BJP and Congress in overall vote share was merely around 0.94 percentage points. Gehlot also claimed that Congress led the BJP by approximately 15,000 votes each in Jaipur and Jodhpur, arguing that had Mayors been elected directly by voters, Congress candidates could have secured the Mayoral posts in both cities. Notably, ruling parties in Rajasthan have historically held an advantage in civic body elections, a structural factor Gehlot invoked to minimise the significance of the BJP's result.

Panchayat Election Preparations and Rahul Gandhi's Role

Earlier in the day, Gehlot addressed a meeting of district presidents, district in-charges and co-in-charges organised by the RPCC to strategise for the Panchayati Raj elections. He described Rajasthan Congress as 'an example of unity for the entire country' and urged leaders to carry the same spirit from the state level down to districts, blocks and villages. He noted that district presidents had been selected through the 'Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan' (Organisation Building Campaign) and that Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had given his final approval after expressing confidence in the selection process.

Ticket Distribution and Electoral Strategy

On the question of candidate selection, Gehlot said district presidents must prioritise nominees with the strongest winning prospects, drawing on assessments from all sections of the organisation rather than factional interests. He stated he would not personally recommend any candidate, saying local leaders are best placed to judge electoral viability at the ground level. 'From this day forward, the prevailing sentiment must be that all leaders are united. Rajasthan is an example of unity for the entire country,' he said, urging workers to convert collective organisational strength into electoral success in the Panchayati Raj polls.