BI India, New Delhi : The two-time CM is a rare woman survivor in ‘purush-pradhan’ Rajasthan politics. BJP was forced to rethink its strategy of sidelining her, because the party needs her voter connect. It’s a open secret in political corridors about Modi-Shah disliking about her, but they failed in their attempt to sideline her. She has not only been given tickets but her loyalists too got their due share in BJP candidate list.
During campaigns, BJP veteran Vasundhara Raje keeps up a punishing schedule. When this reporter covered her campaign during the Rajasthan assembly polls of 2003 (which BJP won with 120 seats and Vasundhara became CM for the first time), she pointed to the rapturous crowds she attracted and declared: “My critics should see how lovingly the people receive me. Yet they persist in casting me as a chiffon-clad, polo-playing woman. First they stereotype you, then they condemn you.”
Among BJP leaders, Vasundhara remains an unusual figure and she’s not afraid to be different. Always immaculately dressed, she speaks fluent witty English and makes no bones about her glittering social life. In a ‘purush-pradhan’ (male-dominated) Rajasthan society, she has often crossed swords with the mostly male BJP old guard and patriarchs of the Sangh Parivar in Rajasthan. She has been accused of arrogance and displaying feudal airs because of her ‘royal’ lineage.
Ever since she led the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to a historic triumph in 2003, Vasundhara Raje has played a pivotal role in Rajasthan politics. But few days ahead of the upcoming Assembly Elections, the conspicuous absence of the state’s first woman chief minister from two crucial BJP poll panels had set off a big buzz. When the first list of BJP’s candidates released last week, it was the talk of the town that Vasundhara has been ultimately sidelined, but this turned out to be just a rumour. BJP’s leadership soon rewarded Raje with her full share of representation. Her all loyalists got adjusted with party tickets.
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Though the BJP in Rajasthan was hectically trying to sideline Vasundhara Raje, it was not easy for the party to do so. After all the ifs and buts, Raje continues to be the central figure of the party in the state. The Congress is certainly going to reap political benefit out of what is going on in the BJP, as the ruling party is fully united for the byelections under the leadership of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Sachin Pilot, who had once turned rebel, and PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra are sparing no effort to ensure the party’s victory in all these three seats where bypolls have to take place.
The BJP is, however, divided into two groups. Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is seen leading the state BJP, and efforts are said to be underway to isolate Raje. Vasundhara Raje does not figure in any of the party posters being used in these seats. However, she continues to be silent.
Observers believe that it won’t be easy for the state leaders to isolate her in the BJP, as she is said to be the only leader who is aware of every single corner of the state.
This kind of internal politics is not new to Vasundhara Raje. There have been efforts to sideline her in the BJP since 2018. But now the message is that the state BJP will have a new leadership. But Vasundhara is not willing to leave Rajasthan. What is also undeniable is that the high command in Delhi is quite strong and if the party wins Bengal, the leadership will emerge much stronger. Then it will be easier for the BJP to win elections in Uttar Pradesh. If things go like this, then the politics of Rajasthan will become quite interesting in the changed political scenario in the country.
Analysts feel that the high command cannot at the same time ignore the contribution of Vasundhara’s mother late Vijaya Raje Scindia, who had played an unforgettable role in paving the way for the BJP’s rise to top. With this in view, it will not be easy to ignore and isolate Vasundhara, who is the only leader from the Scindia family who ensured BJP’s victory twice in Rajasthan. Her nephew Jyotiraditya Scindia is in BJP for one year now, and he has not been given any big responsibility as of today.
