Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje now seems to have changed a bit. Raje’s “changed attitude” has triggered speculations in political circles. Is she active after getting some positive message from the high command? Or is it the result of the changed atmosphere after the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya?
Raje is undoubtedly a popular leader in Rajasthan. The party’s decision not to project Raje as its CM face during the Rajasthan assembly polls had impacted the calculations at one point in time. Finally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s face did all the wonders.
Congress was thrown out of power. The party’s move to bet on PM Modi’s face brought positive results. Modi made first-time MLA Bhajanlal Sharma the Chief Minister. This move put a question mark on the future politics of many leaders including Raje.
Although it was already decided that Raje would not be the CM if the BJP got a decent majority. With Bhajanlal Sharma as CM, a new BJP also emerged in Rajasthan. The Raje era was considered to be over in a way. After the swearing-in ceremony, Raje also suddenly disappeared from the scene. She also did not attend the session of MLAs held by Prime Minister Modi at the BJP headquarters. Eyebrows were raised on the place allotted to her inside the Assembly.
But on January 22, the day of the consecration ceremony in the Ram temple of Ayodhya, Raje suddenly participated in the Ram Utsav in two temples wearing a saffron-coloured veil. That day, she was seen at the function of the Ram temple at Chandpole and the Hanuman temple of Khole ji. She was also sporting a smile on her face.
On January 22, Prime Minister Modi came to Jaipur to honour French President Emmanuel Macron and held a roadshow with him. Then he returned to Delhi along with the visiting guest. Modi also talked to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal for some time.
After being free from the Republic Day celebrations, CM Bhajan Lal suddenly reached the residence of former CM Raje in the evening. The Chief Minister stayed there for about 20 minutes. It is understood that the Chief Minister must have conveyed the message of the high command to Raje.
The BJP high command does not seem to have changed its mind vis-a-vis Raje, but it also does not want to give any message that the senior leader has been completely sidelined. Therefore, it seems that some middle path is being found. Raje’s biggest concern is about his son Dushyant Singh.
As per indications, the BJP high command is going to drop sitting MPs in large numbers in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The tickets will not be given to those who have been MPs for three consecutive terms, above 70 years of age and inactive MPs.
Dushyant Singh became MP for the first time in 2004 when his mother Raje became the Chief Minister of Rajasthan. In her place, he contested from the Jhalawar seat. Since then, he has been an MP by winning the elections for four consecutive times. Based on seniority, Dushyant is the only senior MP in Rajasthan who has won the elections four times.
Today, the rest of the Lok Sabha MPs are junior to him. It seems that his ticket is also uncertain this time. In such a situation, will the party ask Raje to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Jhalawar this time? The way Raje inaugurated the Lok Sabha election office in Jhalawar on Tuesday, it is understood that she may contest the Lok Sabha elections.
However, on this occasion, Dushyant was with her. The BJP wants to make some MLAs contest the Lok Sabha elections. Raje may also be given a big responsibility after being brought to Lok Sabha. Raje is left with limited options.
The indication is clear that the Modi government will again repeat in the 2024 general elections. With this being the case, Raje may get an important post in his new cabinet post-poll. Now the question is whether Raje’s son Dushyant will be made to contest the MLA election in her place or the status quo will remain.
