Jaipur, Nov. 13 -- Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday questioned the 28-day gap between polling and counting in the ongoing panchayati raj elections, alleging that the delay was facilitating the BJP's resort politics and attempts to influence elected representatives. In a post on X, Gehlot pointed out that polling for the first phase of zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections was held on October 23, while counting for all phases is scheduled for November 20. Elections for zila pramukhs will be held on November 25, pradhans on November 27 and up-pradhans on November 28. "Why has such a long gap been kept between polling, counting and the elections of zila pramukhs and pradhans? Such a gap has never been maintained before," he said. Gehlot alleged that the BJP was moving its candidates to resorts and religious destinations outside Rajasthan, switching off their mobile phones and keeping them away from their families. "In areas where polling was held in the first phase, candidates have been kept in confinement for nearly a month. What kind of democracy is this, where people elected by the public are kept away from their families even during festivals such as Diwali?" he asked. He accused the BJP of seeking to use money and muscle power to influence the election of panchayat office-bearers, and said the Congress had also been forced to protect its candidates against alleged pressure tactics and misuse of government machinery....