Rajasthan politics heats up 2.5 years before Assembly elections
Synopsis
With the next Rajasthan Assembly elections still over two years away, the state is already in full political battle mode — Rahul Gandhi launching a national student campaign from Kota, Gehlot and Pilot reviving old wounds, a phone-tapping row resurfacing, and the BJP quietly building booth-level infrastructure. The early heat signals that all sides see Rajasthan as a must-win state and cannot afford to wait.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan's next Assembly elections are more than two-and-a-half years away, yet political activity has reached near-election intensity.
Rahul Gandhi is set to launch the Congress's nationwide 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' campaign from Kota , focusing on student and youth issues.
Former CM Ashok Gehlot and former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot have renewed their public rivalry, revisiting the 2020 Manesar crisis and the September 2022 episode.
The phone-tapping controversy has resurfaced, with Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Gehlot's ex-OSD Lokesh Sharma both making allegations.
The BJP is organising Gram Chaupals and has appointed Ajaey Kumar as organisational general secretary, signalling advance election preparation.
RLP convenor and Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal is attacking both major parties and participating in protests across the state.
Rajasthan is witnessing an unusual surge in political activity more than two-and-a-half years before its next Assembly elections, with sharp verbal exchanges, public protests, and rival mobilisations creating an atmosphere that closely resembles a full-blown election season. The intensity has prompted questions about whether the state has entered campaign mode far earlier than is customary.
Rahul Gandhi's Kota Visit Sets the Tone
The immediate flashpoint is Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's visit to Kota, where he is scheduled to launch the party's nationwide 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' (Students' Echo) campaign. By selecting Rajasthan's coaching capital as the launch pad, the Congress is seeking to broaden the education debate beyond recurring concerns such as paper leaks and recruitment irregularities, positioning youth issues at the centre of its political narrative.
Even before Gandhi's arrival, political temperatures had already risen. Congress leaders alleged that posters related to the visit were removed, a charge the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rejected, dismissing the visit as 'political tourism' rather than a substantive public outreach exercise.
Gehlot-Pilot Rivalry Resurfaces
Rajasthan politics also witnessed a renewed war of words between former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot. Gehlot revived memories of the 2020 Manesar political crisis and the September 2022 episode, describing both as conspiracies aimed at preventing him from contesting the Congress presidential election. He maintained that the rebellion during that period was directed squarely against Pilot.
Responding from Dausa, Pilot remarked that one can judge whether a person is speaking the truth by looking directly into their eyes. Both leaders subsequently attempted to soften the tone — Pilot said Gehlot treats him like his son Vaibhav, while Gehlot spoke warmly about watching Pilot grow up and recalled the long-standing ties between their families.
Phone-Tapping Row and Broader Skirmishes
The political exchanges extended further when Gehlot targeted Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. Shekhawat responded by reviving the phone-tapping controversy. Adding another dimension, Gehlot's former Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Lokesh Sharma also levelled allegations regarding phone surveillance during the previous Congress government.
Separately, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) convenor and Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal has been attacking both the Congress and the BJP on a range of issues, participating in multiple protests across the state.
BJP's Ground Preparations
The BJP is simultaneously strengthening its grassroots presence through Gram Chaupal programmes. The appointment of Ajaey Kumar as organisational general secretary is being read by political observers as a signal of election preparedness well in advance of the scheduled poll.
Shekhawat argued that political warfare, much like modern warfare, has transformed significantly due to technology, and that leaders must remain continuously connected with citizens on every issue.
What Comes Next
Gehlot defended his frequent public interventions, saying, 'It has become mandatory for us to speak on every issue because people need to be made aware. Democracy is slowly being weakened, and it is our duty to stand with the public and make them aware of every development.' The revival of old rivalries, the escalating frequency of public mobilisations, and early organisational moves by both parties suggest that Rajasthan's political landscape is already beginning to resemble an election season — well ahead of schedule.
Point of View
Making it a perennial high-stakes battlefield where neither side can afford to start late. What is notable here is that the Gehlot-Pilot fault line, which the Congress has never fully resolved, is being aired publicly again before any electoral pressure demands it, suggesting the party's internal tensions remain structurally unaddressed. The BJP's quiet ground-level work through Gram Chaupals and a new organisational appointment may prove more consequential than the headline-grabbing verbal exchanges. And Rahul Gandhi's choice of Kota — a city synonymous with student stress and paper-leak controversies — is a deliberate attempt to occupy political space on youth issues before the BJP can define the narrative.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Rajasthan seeing such intense political activity before elections?
Rajasthan's next Assembly elections are more than two-and-a-half years away, but both the Congress and the BJP are ramping up activity to shape public narratives early. Analysts note that in a state known for alternating governments, early visibility and grassroots organisation are considered critical to electoral success.
What is the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' campaign that Rahul Gandhi is launching in Kota?
'Chhatron Ki Goonj' (Students' Echo) is a nationwide Congress campaign focused on issues affecting students and youth, including paper leaks and recruitment irregularities. Rahul Gandhi chose Kota — Rajasthan's major coaching hub — as the launch city, signalling the party's intent to make education a central political issue.
What is the Gehlot-Pilot dispute about?
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot have a long-running rivalry within the Congress. Gehlot recently revived the 2020 Manesar political crisis and the September 2022 episode, calling them conspiracies against his candidacy for the Congress presidency, while Pilot responded with pointed remarks about truthfulness. Both later attempted to soften their public positions.
What is the phone-tapping controversy in Rajasthan?
The phone-tapping controversy relates to allegations of surveillance during the previous Congress government in Rajasthan. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat revived the issue in response to Gehlot's attacks, and Gehlot's former OSD Lokesh Sharma also made separate allegations about phone surveillance during that period.
How is the BJP preparing for the Rajasthan elections?
The BJP is organising Gram Chaupal events to strengthen its grassroots presence and has appointed Ajaey Kumar as organisational general secretary, a move political observers read as advance election preparation. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has also stressed the importance of continuous public engagement through technology-driven outreach.
