Shekhawat takes a dig at Gehlot over media visibility
Synopsis
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat posted a sarcastic remark on X on June 8, 2026, suggesting former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot relies on media appearances to stay politically relevant — the latest salvo in an ongoing BJP-Congress rivalry in the state.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat posted a sarcastic remark on X on June 8, 2026 targeting former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot .
The post implied Gehlot depends on media appearances to remain politically visible after losing power in the 2023 Rajasthan elections .
The BJP won the December 2023 Rajasthan assembly elections , ending Gehlot's tenure as Chief Minister.
Shekhawat is a senior BJP leader, Union Minister, and Lok Sabha MP from Jodhpur , and has long been a vocal critic of Gehlot-era Congress in Rajasthan.
The exchange reflects the continued political competition between BJP and Congress in Rajasthan ahead of future electoral cycles.
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat took a pointed swipe at former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday, June 8, 2026, posting a barbed remark on X that questioned the veteran Congress leader's reliance on media appearances to stay politically relevant.
Context
Shekhawat's post read: 'मीडिया के ज़रिए प्रासंगिक बने रहने की कला आती है गहलोत जी को…' — loosely translated as, 'Gehlot-ji certainly knows the art of staying relevant through the media.' The remark, laced with sarcasm, was accompanied by a video, though the specific clip could not be independently verified at the time of publication.
The comment is the latest in a long-running public exchange between BJP and Congress leaders in Rajasthan, where political rivalries have remained sharp even after the conclusion of the 2023 state assembly elections.
Policy backdrop
The BJP swept to power in Rajasthan in the December 2023 assembly elections, ending Ashok Gehlot's five-year tenure as Chief Minister. Since losing the government, Gehlot has remained one of the most vocal Congress voices in the state, frequently engaging with media on governance, social welfare, and political issues.
This pattern — opposition leaders leveraging media platforms to maintain public presence after losing power — is a well-established feature of Indian state politics. Shekhawat's post appears to be a commentary on precisely this dynamic.
Stakeholders and impact
Shekhawat, a Lok Sabha MP from Jodhpur and a senior Union Minister, has historically been one of the BJP's sharpest critics of the Gehlot-led Congress in Rajasthan. His social-media activity on state politics underscores how Union Ministers continue to play an active role in state-level political contests even from the Centre.
For Congress supporters and Rajasthan voters, the exchange signals that the political temperature in the state remains elevated well ahead of the next assembly cycle. Gehlot, despite no longer holding office, continues to command significant attention as a senior Congress leader with multiple Chief Ministerial terms to his credit.
What's next
Political observers will watch for any formal response from Gehlot or the Rajasthan Congress to Shekhawat's jibe. Such exchanges on social media often presage broader public debates and press conferences. With Rajasthan politics remaining fiercely competitive, both sides are expected to keep up the pressure through every available platform.
Point of View
Barbed enough to reinforce the BJP's post-2023 narrative that Gehlot is a diminished force clinging to relevance. By framing Gehlot's media presence as a survival strategy rather than a substantive political contribution, Shekhawat seeks to pre-emptively undercut any Congress momentum in Rajasthan. The move fits a broader BJP pattern of using Union Ministers as amplifiers in state-level political contests, ensuring the Centre's political voice remains audible in state arenas. Whether Gehlot's media visibility translates into electoral capital for Congress will be the real test as Rajasthan's next assembly election approaches.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Gajendra Singh Shekhawat target Ashok Gehlot on social media?
Shekhawat posted a sarcastic remark on X suggesting Gehlot relies on media appearances to stay politically relevant after losing the 2023 Rajasthan assembly elections to the BJP.
What did Shekhawat's post about Gehlot say?
The post, written in Hindi, translates to 'Gehlot-ji certainly knows the art of staying relevant through the media,' and was accompanied by a video.
Who is Ashok Gehlot?
Ashok Gehlot is a senior Congress leader who served multiple terms as Chief Minister of Rajasthan, most recently from 2018 to 2023.
What happened in the 2023 Rajasthan elections?
The BJP won the December 2023 Rajasthan assembly elections, ending Ashok Gehlot's tenure as Chief Minister and forming the state government.
Who is Gajendra Singh Shekhawat?
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is the Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, a senior BJP leader, and the Lok Sabha MP from Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
