Hitting out at the BJP-led Union government for Enforcement Directorate’s action against Congress leaders including a summon to his son Vaibhav Gehlot, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said that ED raids happen wherever elections are held. The chief minister also said that the BJP does not want women, farmers, and the poor to benefit from Congress’ poll guarantees ahead of the forthcoming Assembly election.

“Misuse of probe agencies not justified; they're targeting me as they couldn't topple my govt,” the Rajasthan CM said, as quoted by news agency PTI.

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Gehlot mentioned that the raid on state Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra was carried out by the central probe agency without notice.

On the summons to his son, Vaibhav Gehlot, the chief minister said, “The situation today is worrying. The question is not about someone, the question is not about my son. They have spread terror across the country. I have heard that ED officers have shifted their families to Chhattisgarh for a year now and are living there on rent because they had to raid every day.”

The Rajasthan CM further alleged that without orders from the top leadership, the central agencies including ED and CBI can not conduct raids. "Gundagardi hai yeh...Without pressure from the top neither ED nor CBI can come,” Gehlot was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Responding to ED summons to him, Gehlot’s son Vaibhav said, "I have received a summon. 12-13 years ago similar allegations were made and we had responded to them. Now again, ED has come. People of Rajasthan do understand why this is happening when a model code of conduct is imposed in the state."

Gehlot’s remarks came after the ED carried out searches at the premises of state Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra and Congress MLA Om Prakash Hudla in connection with the Rajasthan paper leak case. The central probe agency also summoned Gehlot's son Vaibhav in connection with a case of alleged violation of foreign exchange rules.

Meanwhile, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge also slammed the BJP and said that central agencies become the real ‘Panna Pramukh’ of the BJP as elections draw nearer.

“As soon as elections come, ED, CBI, IT etc. become the real 'Panna Pramukh' of BJP. Seeing its certain defeat in Rajasthan, Bharatiya Janata Party made its last move! After Chhattisgarh, ED has also started action against Congress leaders entering the assembly election campaign in Rajasthan,” he wrote on X.

“The dictatorship of Modi government is fatal for democracy. We will continue to fight against the misuse of agencies, the public will give a befitting reply to the BJP,” he further said.

The elections to the 200 Assembly constituencies in Rajasthan will be held in a single phase on November 25. The results will be declared on December 3