Rajasthan: Congress Worker Climbs Water Tank Over Bharatpur Zila Parishad Ticket Denial, Alleges Corruption
A 37-year-old Congress worker climbed an overhead water tank in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur on Tuesday after being denied a Zila Parishad election ticket, alleging corruption in candidate selection. Police safely brought him down after a two-hour standoff, while Congress district chief Dinesh Soopa noted that ticket allocations were not yet finalised.
A 37-year-old Congress worker climbed an overhead water tank near the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) district office in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur on Tuesday, protesting the denial of a party ticket for the upcoming Zila Parishad elections. The worker, identified as Yogendra, a resident of Roopwas, alleged that senior Congress leaders engaged in corruption during candidate selection and overlooked dedicated ground-level cadre.
The high-voltage protest triggered an emergency administrative response, with police personnel and administrative officials rushing to the site. After nearly two hours of persuasion, authorities successfully convinced Yogendra to climb down safely. Palghar: Woman Climbs 50-Foot High-Tension Electricity Tower After Lover Refuses Marriage.
Congress Worker Climbs Water Tank Over Bharatpur Zila Parishad Ticket Denial
Allegations of Financial Irregularities and Neglect of Cadre
Yogendra, who sought a Congress nomination to contest from Ward Number 21 in the Zila Parishad elections, claimed he had served the party for 18 years and spent nearly Rs 35 lakh on organizational activities. He alleged that despite his long-standing work, party tickets were distributed through financial transactions and favouritism rather than merit.
The worker also referenced a similar grievance from five years ago, when he was denied a party ticket from Ward Number 22. At the time, he had accused the local legislator of favouring personal associates and demanded a high-level inquiry into ticket distribution.
Political Journey and Questioning of Leadership
Recounting his background, Yogendra said he entered politics in 2008 as the NSUI block secretary in Bayana. Over the years, he served as the Bayana election in-charge in 2011, district secretary of the Youth Congress in 2017, and state secretary of the NSUI in 2018. He noted that he actively participated in multiple demonstrations and protests in Jaipur and Delhi, often confronting law enforcement during party agitations.
Yogendra also questioned the party's selection process after speaking with election in-charge Murari Lal Meena, who reportedly told him that candidate selection rested with local leadership. Yogendra asked what the purpose of an election in-charge was if local leaders made all final decisions. Invoking statements by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi advocating for greater representation of youth and women, he demanded that the party's policy of giving 50 percent tickets to youth be actively implemented on the ground.
Congress District Leadership Denies Finalisation of Candidates
Traffic Circle Officer (CO) Yogesh stated that police officers engaged with the worker, reasoned with him, and brought him down safely from the water tank.
Addressing the protest, Congress District President Dinesh Soopa dismissed the allegations and clarified that no official candidate list had been finalised for the Zila Parishad elections. Soopa termed the water tank protest unnecessary, stating that while the party is willing to listen to workers' concerns, taking such extreme steps to register dissent is inappropriate.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 20, 2026 08:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).