A significant voice in Rajasthan politics, Rameshwar Dudi, a revered Congress leader and former Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, passed away at his home in Bikaner on Saturday, October 4, 2025. He was 62 years old and had been in a coma since August 2023, following a debilitating brain stroke.
Dudi, who hailed from the influential Jat community, was widely recognized as a fearless and resolute leader for farmers. He consistently challenged authorities to champion the rights of agriculturalists in his region. His political journey saw him elected as an MP from Bikaner in 1999 at the youthful age of 36, stepping into the shoes of the esteemed veteran leader, Balram Jakhar.
From 2013 to 2018, Dudi played a crucial role as the Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly during the Bharatiya Janata Party’s tenure. He represented the Nokha constituency in Bikaner district as an MLA. Today, his legacy in Nokha is continued by his wife, Sushila Dudi, who currently serves as the Congress MLA for the same seat.
The final rites for Rameshwar Dudi were held on Saturday afternoon at his farmhouse in Udairamsar, near Bikaner. The cremation was a solemn affair, attended by a host of senior Congress leaders, party workers, and his devoted supporters. Among those paying their respects were former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Pradesh Congress Committee president Govind Singh Dotasra, and Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully.
Born on July 1, 1963, Dudi embarked on his political journey with the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI). He transitioned into mainstream politics by securing victory as Pradhan in the Nokha Panchayat Samiti in 1995. His dedication to public service extended to two terms as Zila Pramukh of Bikaner before his election as an MLA from Nokha.
Although Dudi faced a defeat in the 2018 Assembly polls, a period when the Congress party returned to power in the State, his influence remained. Due to his ongoing ill health, his wife was nominated for the Nokha Assembly seat in 2023, where she successfully defeated BJP’s Bihari Lal Bishnoi.
Condolences poured in from across the political spectrum, with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi expressing their grief over Dudi’s passing. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot lauded Dudi’s tireless efforts for the farming community, remarking that his untimely departure would be deeply mourned.