Though the BJP leadership tried to bring rival camps together to put up a united face before the Rajasthan Assembly elections, differences refuse to die down. Senior BJP leader and former minister Ghanshyam Tiwari has shown reluctance to continue with his present position as deputy leader of the Opposition. Mr Tiwari was greeted with slogans like “chief minister kaisa ho Tiwari jaisa ho” when he visited Bikaner on Saturday.
The RSS-backed Mr Tiwari was nominated as deputy leader when Ms Raje was elected Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly in 2009. The party high command recently nominated Ms Raje as the state BJP president and former home minister Gulab Chand Kataria was asked to lead the party in the Assembly.
Mr Tiwari said he will be deputy leader only till Ms Raje holds the position of Leader of the Opposition. “My role as deputy leader will be ended the moment a new Leader of Opposition comes in. I do not want to repeat myself for the same position,” he said.
Mr Tiwari was planning to undertake a statewide visit in form of pilgrimage. His supporters accorded him a rousing welcome when he reached Bikaner on a visit and shouted slogans in his favour. He said the party was united and there was no factionalism in his party.
Mr Tiwari skipped the procession and the gathering formed to welcome Ms Raje when she arrived Jaipur from Delhi after her nomination as the state BJP chief. But he was present when Ms Raje took over charge as the new BJP president at the party office in Jaipur.
The Raje camp loyal leaders tried their best to put up a united face and Ms Raje herself paid a visit to Bharati Bhavan, the RSS headquarters in Jaipur, to appease the Sangh Parivar before assuming the position as the state president. But a section of the party was not happy with the development. According to sources, Ms Raje will soon constitute a new team to lead the party for the upcoming Assembly elections.
“It will be an uphill task to keep the rival factions together and forge unity,” said a BJP leader.