Vasundhara Raje asks Election Commission to act on Sharad Yadav’s body-shaming remark

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said on Friday that she felt insulted by a remark about her body made by Sharad Yadav, former president of the Janata Dal (United), and urged the Election Commission to take note of it.

Raje’s response

Speaking to reporters after voting at a pink polling booth set up only for women in her constituency of Jhalrapatan, Raje said: “I am shocked. I feel insulted. He has insulted women.” She said the Commission should act to set an example.

She asked whether this was the kind of example Yadav wished to set for young people, and said the Congress and its allies should be more careful with their words.

The remark

At a rally in Alwar the previous Friday, Yadav had said that Raje should be given rest because she had become very tired and had put on weight, adding that she used to be slim and that she was a daughter of Madhya Pradesh.

The BJP in Rajasthan called the comment sexist and lodged a complaint with the Election Commission.

Yadav’s defence

On Friday morning, Yadav defended himself, describing the comment as a joke and saying he had longstanding relations with Raje. He said the remark was not derogatory and that he had not meant to hurt her.

What happened next

The Congress won 99 seats in the election to the BJP’s 73, and Ashok Gehlot became Chief Minister.

Originally published on 7 December 2018. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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