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Jaipur, October 9 (IANS) Rajasthan Congress in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has created a stir in political circles by making sharp remarks on party leader Naresh Meena during a press conference in Bikaner on Thursday.
Taking a political dig at Meena, Randhawa said, “MLAs are not born on Twitter. It was my mistake that I did not see Naresh Meena’s tweet. If I had seen it earlier, I would have gone to meet him.”
“I am a small man and he is a very big leader,” Randhawa said sharply, a comment that has since become a hot topic in Rajasthan’s political discourse.
His statement was given in the presence of senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition of Rajasthan Govind Singh Dotasara.
Randhawa said that in Congress, tickets are considered only to those people who are loyal to the party and are capable of taking everyone along.
Taking an important step, Congress has made veteran leader Pramod Jain Bhaya its candidate for the upcoming by-election in Anta assembly constituency of Baran district.
The decision is being seen as both a strategic effort to regain lost ground after its defeat in the 2023 assembly elections and a possible political comeback for Bhaya.
However, this has dealt a big political blow to Naresh Meena, who was hoping for a ticket from Congress.
Now Meena has announced to contest the by-election as an independent candidate, due to which the political fight has intensified.
Earlier on October 7, Naresh Meena had posted a post addressed to Rahul Gandhi demanding ticket for Anta by-election.
He said, “Rahul ji, in 2000 my father was the block president of Congress in Baran.
“In 2002, I contested the Rajasthan University Students’ Union general secretary election on an NSUI ticket and won – a historic victory. In 2023, I sought a Congress ticket for the Chhabra assembly seat. When refused, I contested as an independent and secured 45,000 votes. In 2024, I again sought a ticket – this time from Dausa Lok Sabha – and was ignored. In 2024 in Deoli-Uniara In the by-election, I requested a ticket from Congress, but it was given to a former BJP leader. I contested the elections as an independent candidate, came second with 60,000 votes and the Congress candidate’s deposit was forfeited. Now, for the 2025 Anta Assembly by-election, I am once again seeking a ticket from Congress. Every time, the party has given the ticket to someone from a caste that is not even one per cent of Anta’s people – someone like Pramod Jain, whose The actions have caused deep damage to Congress in the entire Kota division. Respected Rahul ji, I have full hope that you will keep in mind my contribution and public support and give me a fair chance this time.
He concluded, “Sincerely, Naresh Meena #AntaUpElections #Congress #Rajasthan.”
Anta Assembly seat has become vacant after the conviction of sitting MLA Kanwarlal Meena.
He surrendered in the Manohar police station court and filed a mercy petition with the Governor for pardon.
However, the petition is pending due to legal complications.
Now that the by-election has been officially announced, both the BJP and the Congress are seeing it as an important battleground.
The BJP aims to retain the seat and strengthen its hold in Rajasthan, while the Congress hopes to regain lost ground and send a strong message ahead of future elections.
–IANS
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