Rajasthan assembly monsoon session begins amid protests & slogans

The monsoon session of the Rajasthan Assembly opened on Monday amid dramatic scenes, as Congress legislators staged a protest outside the Assembly building before proceedings began. Dressed in T-shirts emblazoned with slogans around the “Vote Chori” narrative, the MLAs raised slogans demanding accountability and shouted, “Vote chor gaddi chhodo”

The protest highlighted how the Congress party’s growing political campaign around alleged “vote theft” has now extended to Rajasthan at a time when Rahul Gandhi is carrying forward the same message during his yatra in Bihar.

Chaos inside the house

Once inside the Assembly, the Opposition members carried placards and continued their slogan-shouting. Speaker of the House attempted to calm the protesting MLAs, urging them to “maintain the dignity of the Assembly” and not treat the proceedings like a “marketplace or street corner.”

However, the protests did not subside. In retaliation, BJP legislators countered the slogans with chants of “Gali baaz Rahul Gandhi” intensifying the uproar.

Speaker’s rebuke to both sides

Amid the noisy exchange, the Speaker expressed displeasure at the escalating confrontation. While rebuking the Congress MLAs for disrupting proceedings, he also asked BJP legislators to exercise restraint, reminding them that the priority was to run the house smoothly.

Political context: from Bihar to Rajasthan

The timing of the protests is seen as politically significant. Rahul Gandhi, during his yatra in Bihar on Monday, had amplified the “Vote Chori” campaign, alleging systematic betrayal of the people’s mandate by the ruling BJP at the Centre and in various states. By bringing the same slogan into the Rajasthan Assembly, Congress legislators signaled their intent to make it a national issue that resonates beyond one state.

Looking ahead

With the Assembly’s monsoon session barely underway, the confrontational start suggests that the “Vote Chori” narrative will dominate much of the proceedings in Rajasthan. For the Congress, it is both a rallying cry against the BJP and a tool to energize its cadre ahead of future electoral battles. For the BJP, countering the charge without letting the Assembly descend into chaos will remain an immediate challenge.