Jaipur, Oct. 2 -- Congress on Thursday sounded the election bugle for upcoming Panchayati Raj polls in Rajasthan, choosing Degana in Nagaur district to launch an aggressive political campaign against BJP government. The choice of Nagaur was significant as it was from here that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had launched the Panchayati Raj system in the country in 1959. Addressing a workers' conference in Degana, Pradesh Congress Committee president Govind Singh Dotasara and Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully accused the BJP governments at the Centre and in Rajasthan of undermining democratic values and misusing the administrative machinery. Dotasara said the Congress was committed to protecting the rights of farmers, Dalits and the poor, while alleging that the BJP was working in the opposite direction. Taking a swipe at chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, he said PM Narendra Modi visited Rajasthan during the Assembly elections, made promises to people and left, after which a person with limited administrative experience was made CM. He said a CM's responsibility was to understand people's problems and address their grievances rather than remain occupied with religious visits. Referring to the recent urban local body elections, Dotasara alleged that the BJP used the police and administration to intimidate its political opponents, bringing a "disgrace" to healthy politics. Reacting to BJP state president Madan Rathore's statement about a possible Cabinet reshuffle after the elections, Dotasara claimed that the exercise could go beyond a Cabinet reshuffle and that the chief minister could also be changed. On his birthday, Dotasara sought a "political gift" from party workers in the form of a decisive Congress victory in Nagaur in Panchayati Raj polls. He urged workers to set aside internal differences and work together. Dotasara alleged that district collectors were being asked to prepare lists of people likely to contest the elections on Congress tickets, warning that the government could resort to pressure tactics. Assuring workers of organisational support, he said: "If the situation demands, Govind Singh Dotasara will be the first to face bullets." Jully too alleged that the BJP government was apprehensive about Panchayati Raj polls and was attempting to influence the electoral process. Referring to urban elections, he claimed that councillors faced police pressure. He also accused government of delaying Panchayati Raj elections and said they were being held only after judicial intervention. Jully alleged people were struggling to access pensions, scholarships, MSP for agricultural produce, electricity, fertilisers and water. Degana conference marked Congress's formal mobilisation for the Panchayati Raj elections, with its senior leaders calling for organisational unity and a direct political contest with the BJP in the rural polls. BJP state secretary Ekta Agarwal rejected Congress's allegations, saying the opposition was trying to create a political narrative ahead of the Panchayati Raj elections after facing setbacks in recent local body polls. The party said Congress should focus on its organisational shortcomings instead of making unsubstantiated allegations against the government and administration. On Congress's criticism of the CM, BJP said Sharma government focused on implementing development projects and schemes and its performance would be judged by the people....