Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has raised questions about Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s frequent visits to Rajasthan. This is happening for the first time that the Vice President of the country has visited his state frequently. When Dhankhar’s name was decided for the Vice President, reports were claiming that the BJP had tried to woo the Jat community of Rajasthan. However, the Vice President did not say anything in public that sent any political message.
This is happening for the first time in the politics of Rajasthan when the ruling party can be seen outweighing the opposition. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s strategy in the last two years has upstaged their political game. CM Gehlot launched several welfare schemes for the common man, which the opposition could not even imagine. He hit the headlines by revoking the Old Pension Scheme. The BJP-ruled states were under pressure after Rajasthan implemented the OPS. Congress benefited from it in both Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka. Gehlot’s move to implement RGHS went down well with government employees. Experts say that the government employees’ support can help Congress pose a big challenge to opponents in the forthcoming assembly elections. Chiranjeevi Swasthya Yojana, gas cylinder for Rs 500, free power up to 100 units to the common man, and free power up to 2000 units to farmers are quite popular schemes that Gehlot implemented. Needless to say, the BJP’s resounding victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections is attributed to such popular schemes of the Modi government.
Secondly, former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje continues to be a cause of concern for BJP. The party’s high command has allowed heavyweight leaders to consolidate their positions in every division in what is being seen as a move against the Raje factor. These leaders, who are known to be Raje’s opponents, include Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Marwar, Kirori Lal Meena in Dhundhar, Arjun Meghwal in Bikaner and Rajendra Rathore, Diya Kumari and CP Joshi from Mewar, Satish Poonia in Jaipur, Om Birla and Madan Dilawar from Hadoti, Anita Bhadel and Vasudev Devnani from Ajmer. Despite this move, the BJP is doubtful about its victory in upcoming assembly polls. So, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken charge of electoral matters in Rajasthan. He is touring Rajasthan at regular intervals. All party heavyweights are camping in different assembly constituencies.
Amidst all the political activities, Vice President Dhankhar’s visit has also triggered a debate. He is showering praise on the women’s reservation act in his speeches. As a result, during an event at Birla Auditorium, Jaipur, CM Gehlot not only targeted PM Modi, but also raised questions on frequent visits of the Vice President. He said that the Vice President is coming to Rajasthan frequently when elections are near. The CM asked, “Vice President Dhankhar will make five visits on Wednesday. There are four helicopters standing by for him, be it the Vice President or the Governor, we respect everyone, but the Vice President is a constitutional post, and its dignity should not be diminished. Whatever be the government, respect for these posts should remain.”
Gehlot said that even if the Vice President becomes the President, we will welcome him. He said that when Bhairon Singh Shekhawat became the Vice President, we had given him a grand welcome at the Chief Minister’s residence, while the BJP leaders had maintained a distance from him. Gehlot said, “I do not discriminate in such matters. But the visits are definitely raising questions.” With Gehlot raising questions on the frequent visit of Dhankhar to Rajasthan, the issue is likely to create a political slugfest. At present, Chief Minister Gehlot is sure of his victory and has set out on an election tour.
