Congress candidate arrested ahead of panchayat polls in Rajasthan

A Congress candidate contesting panchayat elections in Sarwad, Ajmer district, was arrested on Tuesday, triggering a political row in the region. Hansraj Gurjar's detention prompted former state minister Raghu Sharma to arrive at the local police station with supporters to demand clarification on the arrest.

Sharma claimed the arrest was politically motivated and attributed it to pressure from the Bharatiya Janata Party. He questioned the timing of the arrest, coming just before the scheduled panchayat elections, and alleged that the police were being used to target opposition candidates.

Police officials countered the allegations, stating that Gurjar's arrest was based on a first information report filed in connection with an assault case. According to the police account, the action was taken strictly in accordance with law enforcement procedures and was unrelated to electoral politics.

The incident reflects ongoing tensions between regional political parties in Rajasthan, with opposition leaders frequently alleging that law enforcement agencies are deployed selectively. The arrested candidate's judicial status and the details of the underlying complaint were not immediately available.