Friday was the last day to file nominations for the November 13 bye-elections in seven assembly seats in Rajasthan. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot got into a heated argument.

Leaders from the two traditionally rival parties traded insults with each other at the nomination gatherings for their own candidates.

At public events in Khimsar, Salumbar (ST), and Chorasi, Chief Minister Sharma made it clear that his 10 months in office had led to good government.

That being said, former Chief Minister Gehlot strongly denied these statements at gatherings in Deoli-Uniara and Dausa, saying, “There has been no government in the state for the past 10 months.”

“Our government has fulfilled 50% of the promises made by the ruling BJP in the manifesto, ‘Jan Ghoshna-Patra,'” Chief Minister Sharma said. There are efforts being made to give young people jobs and make life better for our farmers.

“Efforts are also being made to get as much investment as possible to speed up industrialization, development, and job creation for the people in the area,” the Chief Minister said.

Sharma, on the other hand, said that the opposing Congress was stopping progress and growth and separating people and society along religious, gender, and faith lines.

Gehlot, the leader of the Congress party, replied, “The Bhajan Lal government has stopped our schemes, such as the Annapurna Scheme and the pension scheme, so people can’t use them.” There are no longer any scholarships for students.

He went on to say, “In fact, it was our previous government that worked to make the state better.”