Though the state BJP is gearing up for Assembly elections in Rajasthan, but the party is yet to resolve the issue of leadership. The former chief minister Vasundhara Raje’s followers insist to project her as chief ministerial candidate. But a strong section of the party backed by the Sangh parivar is not ready to accept it. BJP’s national secretary Kiran Mahes-hwari is of the view that the elections should be contested under the leadership of Ms Raje. But former home minister Gulab Chand Kataria refuted it. He said the party’s parliamentary board will decide it.
The state party chief Arun Chaturvedi said the party will take decision at the appropriate time. The contradictory statements by the saffron leaders came in light only three days after the BJP leaders joined hands against the Congress government and marched toward the Raj Bhavan.
The Raje camp loyals argued that she should be given a free hand to lead the party for next Assembly elections due in year 2013. “She is crowd puller and most popular face of the state,” said a BJP leader. But RSS-backed leaders said the organisation should be given a priority, not an individual. The former external affairs minister Jaswant Singh also sided with Ms Raje.
Keeping in mind the next elections and issue of leadership, the Leader of Opposition Raje mended fences with some of her baiters. She had paid a visit to Mr Singh’s residence in Jodhpur in 2011 when she was accompanying L.K. Advani during his yatra. Ms Raje had also visited the some of the party’s old guards in Kota during her visit.