Barmer/Jaisalmer, Oct. 19 -- Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday accused the BJP government of neglecting drought-hit western Rajasthan and manipulating the delimitation of panchayat constituencies, ahead of the Panchayati Raj elections. Addressing a Congress workers' convention and farmer dialogue in Jaisalmer, Gehlot sought to position the party as the voice of farmers, livestock owners and rural communities hit by the drought. "Thousands of livestock are dying due to a shortage of fodder in Jaisalmer, while rural residents are facing a lack of employment opportunities," he said. He alleged that the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led government had failed to recognise the gravity of the drought in Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jodhpur and other parts of western Rajasthan. "Jaisalmer is bearing the brunt of the drought. Thousands of animals are dying due to a shortage of fodder, and ordinary people have no employment. Yet, the BJP government is paying no attention to their plight," he said. Gehlot claimed fodder prices had touched Rs.20 a kg and demanded immediate relief measures, including early completion of crop-loss assessment through girdawari, drought-relief works, cattle camps, fodder and water transportation, and employment for affected rural households. Drawing a comparison with his tenure, he said relief operations during previous droughts had begun as early as August 16 and continued for 10 to 11 months. He cited the earlier Food for Work programme and urged the state government to seek central assistance if required. Gehlot also criticised the alleged suspension of MGNREGA works. He claimed that during a recent Barmer visit, chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma had announced only Rs.1 crore as drought relief, which was yet to be released. Making panchayat delimitation a poll issue, Gehlot alleged the exercise had been carried out arbitrarily, as he claimed had happened during the urban local body elections. He cited alleged disparities in ward sizes, saying some wards had as few as 85 or 250 voters while others had 5,000, 10,000 or even 20,000. "Just as dishonesty was committed during the urban local body elections, arbitrary decisions have also been taken in the delimitation of panchayati raj constituencies," he alleged. He further accused the government of using police pressure during the earlier delimitation process, and alleged that the ruling party relied on money and baadebandi to manage electoral contests. BJP leader Dileep Paliwal dismissed the allegations as baseless, saying the party would replicate its victory in the recent local body elections in the panchayati raj polls. He said the Congress had made similar claims before the local body polls, but the results had proved otherwise. "People have understood the Congress's politics of betrayal and will no longer be misled by its claims," Paliwal said, asserting that the BJP would win the panchayat elections while the Congress would face another setback....