The Rajasthan Congress recently revoked the suspension of six leaders: Mewaram Jain, Balendu Singh Shekhawat, Sandeep Sharma, Balram Yadav, Arvind Damor, and Tejpal Mirdha, reinstating them into the party. These leaders were expelled for various reasons, including indiscipline, but the return of one of these leaders has caused a political upheaval in the state.
The party’s decision is being seen as an attempt to strike a balance between the camps of former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot. However, some leaders have also faced opposition to the return, leading to a resurgence of factionalism within the party.
On the instructions of AICC Rajasthan in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, State Congress President Govind Singh Dotasara issued an order revoking the expulsion of these six leaders. Some of these leaders are associated with the Gehlot camp, while others are considered Pilot supporters. The reasons for their suspension varied, including unethical conduct, anti-party activities, and disobeying party orders. With their reinstatement, the party has attempted to appease both camps, but this decision is also being questioned.
Of all these leaders, the return of former Barmer MLA Mewaram Jain is being most discussed. In January 2024, a married woman filed a rape case against him at the Rajiv Nagar police station in Jodhpur. Following this, Dotasara suspended him from the party after an alleged obscene video of him went viral. The suspension letter stated that Mewaram’s conduct was against the party constitution.
