BJP’s Rajasthan plans: Amid the long gap before the short Assembly session, its problem of plenty and Sangh’s ‘vichar’

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 30

“It is just a matter of time” claim those familiar with the BJP’s strategy for Rajasthan in the long gap before the short Assembly election called by Governor Kalraj Mishra on August 14.

If the BJP’s plans do materialise, the next question would be “who will be the Chief Minister” as there appears to be “directives” from Nagpur that the man/woman in the top post should be from saffron/Sangh ‘parivaar’, the background and ideology. 

In states like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan, the saffron party is flush with in-house talent belonging to the Sangh background.

Political observers say Congress’ rebel Sachin Pilot “certainly does not fit the specifications” even if he manages to wean some more MLAs from the Ashok Gehlot camp before the Assembly session, despite BJP state chief Satish Poonia’s rather interesting statement before the crucial hearing in the Rajasthan High Court on Friday.

Also read: ‘Horse-trading rates’ shot up after assembly session announcement: Gehlot

Rajasthan Cong MLAs will camp together till assembly session, says chief whip

“Sachin Pilot revolted to become the Chief Minister...there is a history in the country that those who have fewer MLAs go on to become Chief Ministers,” Poonia was quoted as saying.

Though the ongoing political drama appears to be “advantage to the BJP”, speculations also are that the Central BJP leadership may not be inclined towards former CM Vasundhara Raje occupying the post, despite a large number of current MLAs belonging to her camp.

Apparently, she has the support of more than 40 MLAs but she has been missing from BJP’s “Mission dislodge Ashok Gehlot”, unlike Poonia and senior leaders Gulab Chand Kataria, Rajya Sabha MP Om Mathur and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

Leaders close to her say Raje may not be at the forefront but she is “keeping a close watch” and waiting for the right time to step in. Another person missing from the political action in Rajasthan is former union minister and Jaipur Rural MP Rajyavardhan Rathore, once a blue-eyed boy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Meanwhile, those in the race, whether or not they have an Assembly seat, include Rajsamand MP Diya Kumari and union minister Arjun Meghwal. Meghwal’s promotion of ‘Bhabiji papad’, claiming that it was made from ingredients that helped to build antibodies against COVID-19, evoked much criticism and interest. 

There are many dark horses, such as Rajpal Singh Shekhawat and Satish Poonia, with their large network of party cadres and also believed to be close to “Nagpur”. There is also an angle concerning Hanuman Beniwal, national convener of NDA ally Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, who has been accusing Raje of trying to influence Congress MLAs close to her to save the Gehlot government.

Sources say just like the Congress, the BJP too is faction-ridden with more than one aspirant for the Chief Minister’s post. Raje held her ground in 2018 against someone as powerful as Amit Shah, the then BJP president, over the selection of the state unit chief. While Shah wanted to appoint Shekhawat, he had to settle for Madan Lal Saini after stalemate lasting weeks.

Can she still hope to find favour with the central leadership? This remains to be seen.