BJP Leader's Controversial Comment Ignites Political Storm in Rajasthan
Rajya Sabha MP Radha Mohan Das Agrawal, the Bharatiya Janata Party's Rajasthan in-charge, has triggered a major political controversy by suggesting that the BJP could have won the recent Anta Assembly bypoll through "unfair means" but chose not to do so. The remarks came at a time when the party is facing internal unrest following its defeat in the Baran district constituency.
The controversial statement was made on November 21, 2025, as Agrawal attempted to position the electoral loss as evidence of "impartial elections" under BJP governance. This assertion comes amid persistent allegations from opposition parties about electoral malpractice, commonly referred to as "vote chori" or vote theft.
Internal Dissent Within BJP Ranks
The Anta bypoll defeat has exposed significant internal friction within the Rajasthan BJP. Seven-time BJP MLA Pratap Singh Singhvi publicly alleged that the party leadership deliberately sidelined him during the campaign, despite his constituency of Chhabra being located within the same Baran district.
Singhvi's grievances included multiple complaints: he was excluded from the star campaigners list, not assigned any responsibilities despite being part of the poll committee, and his photograph was conspicuously absent from newspaper advertisements featuring other Baran MLAs Radheyshyam Bairwa and Lalit Meena.
The internal discord became more evident when local ministers Hiralal Nagar and Madan Dilawar abstained from campaigning. Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje eventually led the campaign efforts, though she displayed initial hesitation before taking charge.
Agrawal's Controversial Defense
In his attempt to reframe the electoral defeat, Agrawal made statements that have drawn widespread criticism. "Anta election has proved how impartial elections are conducted by the BJP," he declared, adding that "if we wanted to control the election politically, on the basis of the voter list or administratively, through unfair means, then Anta election could have been in our pocket."
The BJP leader emphasized that the party chose to respect public sentiment and conduct the election with "complete honesty and with cent-per-cent impartiality." He highlighted the 81% voter turnout in Anta and described the result as "a big slap on the faces of those who allege vote chori."
The Congress party's Pramod Jain Bhaya, who had previously represented the seat twice, secured victory over BJP candidate Morpal Suman by 15,612 votes. The election also saw the defeat of party rebel Naresh Meena. The seat became vacant after BJP's Kanwarlal Meena was disqualified in a two-decade-old case earlier this year.
Congress Reaction and Political Fallout
Congress spokesperson Swarnim Chaturvedi launched a sharp counterattack against Agrawal's remarks. "Radha Mohan ji is making a mockery of democracy," Chaturvedi stated. "His comments make their intentions clear. They are talking as if they don't have trust in the democratic process."
The Congress representative contrasted their party's evidence-based questions to the Election Commission with what they characterized as the BJP's unsubstantiated claims. Chaturvedi interpreted the Anta bypoll results as "failure of the double engine government" and a rejection of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma's performance.
History of Controversial Statements
Since his appointment in July 2024, Radha Mohan Das Agrawal has consistently generated controversy in Rajasthan's political circles. His public statements have involved several prominent political figures including former CMs Ashok Gehlot and Vasundhara Raje, current CM Bhajan Lal Sharma, Sachin Pilot, and Rajendra Rathore.
Among his most notable controversies:
- Questioning senior leader Rajendra Rathore's absence from meetings, remarking "Where has Rajendra Rathore ji gone?" and drawing criticism from Karni Sena outfits
- Commenting on Vasundhara Raje's health, stating she appeared "unusual and weak" during a Delhi visit
- Declaring Congress leader Sachin Pilot a "spent force" whose political era had ended
- Using derogatory language for former CM Ashok Gehlot, suggesting only his "political last rites" remained
- Referring to Rashtriya Loktantrik Party chief Hanuman Beniwal as a "rat" following an electoral defeat
- Facing physical attacks including ink-hurling by suspected Sachin Pilot supporters
The latest controversy comes more than a year after the BJP witnessed a significant decline in its Lok Sabha performance in Rajasthan, dropping from 24 to 14 seats. The Anta bypoll defeat and Agrawal's subsequent remarks have intensified scrutiny on the party's internal dynamics and electoral strategies in the state.
