Rajasthan Congress is in the spotlight again after clashes between rival factions of party workers in Kota on November 9, 2025. The Rajasthan Congress is confronting another public display of internal friction in the city of Kota. During a visit by senior party leadership, supporters of rival local leaders clashed at a railway station. Signalling that old allegiances and local rivalries continue to shape the party’s internal landscape. Even as it tries to streamline organisation ahead of key contests.
Rajasthan Congress clash in Kota
Factionalism within the Rajasthan Congress party shows no signs of abating. A recent example of this was seen in Kota on Saturday night, when supporters of two factions clashed in front of former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. In Kota, supporters of Shanti Dhariwal and Prahlad Gunjal clashed at the station in front of former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
Gehlot was going to address a rally in Baran on the last day of the Anta assembly by-election, and this political conflict started as soon as he got off the train at Kota railway station. Supporters of former minister Shanti Dhariwal were on one side, while supporters of Prahlad Gunjal, who recently joined the Congress party, clashed, trying to outdo each other. The atmosphere became so heated that it even led to pushing and shoving.
Seeing the situation worsen, the police intervened, but the supporters clashed with them as well. However, the police somehow brought the situation under control. Throughout the entire incident, Gehlot chose to remain silent in his car and, without reacting, proceeded directly to Baran.
Interestingly, neither Shanti Dhariwal nor Prahlad Gunjal were seen at the spot during this entire controversy. Neither leader arrived at the station to welcome Gehlot. However, their supporters were quick to show their support for their respective leaders.
History of clashes in the Rajasthan Congress in Kota
In fact, this factionalism within the Rajasthan Congress party in Kota is not new. Since Gunjal joined the party, a struggle for dominance has arisen between his supporters and those of Dhariwal. Both sides often raise slogans against each other at major party events. Recently, a similar scene occurred during the selection of the Congress District President, leading to a significant uproar at the Kota office in front of the observers from Delhi.
Shanti Dhariwal is recognised as a strong leader of the Ashok Gehlot camp. Prahlad Gunjal is known to be close to Govind Singh Dotasara and Sachin Pilot. For this reason, supporters of both consider mutual display of power as a symbol of party loyalty.
The two leaders have a long-standing political rivalry. Gunjal, while in the BJP, contested three assembly elections against Shanti Dhariwal. Of these, Dhariwal won twice, while Gunjal defeated him once. Despite later joining the Congress, the old political tension between them has still not ended. Now, both are in the same party. But the lack of coordination has raised questions about the unity of the Rajasthan Congress. Whenever a prominent Congress leader visits Kota, the struggle for dominance resurfaces.
Key underlying players and dynamics
In Kota, the clash between Dhariwal’s and Gunjal’s supporters points to a long-standing rivalry. Both leaders have significant local clout and followings, and their supporters tend to jockey for visibility when major events happen. In the broader party structure, the influence of senior figures and regional powerbrokers means that organisational moves aren’t just administrative — they’re highly political and laden with personal stakes.
Why the Rajasthan Congress should care
For the Rajasthan Congress, this incident isn’t just a flare-up. It underscores deeper problems: local power centres still have strong, often competing, loyalties; organisational processes (like appointments) are stirring unrest; and when leadership visits are supposed to be moments of cohesion, instead they become stages for dispute. When the Rajasthan Congress needs a unified front — especially with by-polls and local reorganisations pending — such episodes weaken its campaign narrative.
Wider organisational stress
This conflict in Kota reflects a broader statewide trend. As the Rajasthan Congress carries out its “organisation restructure” and begins selecting district presidents, incidents of lobby wars, walkouts, shouting matches, and factional support have become increasingly common. The leadership’s ambition to bring fresh blood and an accountable structure is colliding with entrenched structures and personalities.
Implications for upcoming elections and campaigns
When internal fights are so visible, the public narrative shifts from the party’s vision and policy to its disunity. For the Rajasthan Congress, that’s a disadvantage: opponents can frame them as distracted, divided, and weak. In electoral terms — especially in closely fought seats or by-elections — message discipline and cohesion matter. A party caught in internal strife risks losing those marginal gains.
What the Rajasthan Congress needs to do
- Contain the damage, immediately: Senior state leadership should issue a clear message of unity and oversee local leaders to calm tensions.
- Ensure transparency in appointments: If district-level selections are perceived as fair, it decreases suspicion and promotes internal stability within the party.
- Embed accountability: Trials or probation for new office-bearers may help ensure they perform and don’t become purely faction-based appointments.
- Promote shared identity over factional identity: parties strengthen when local workers feel part of the whole, not just a camp. Internal training, local meetings, and conflict-resolution mechanisms can help.
Conclusion
The clash in Kota is more than a local skirmish for the Rajasthan Congress. Unresolved factional tensions may undermine organisational strength when cohesion is essential. If the party manages to stabilise its internal structure, streamline the appointment process and renew its focus on shared goals, it may convert internal reorganisation into electoral muscle. Otherwise, the spectacle of discord could erode public confidence and provide rivals with an opening.