The BJP high command’s decision to make former chief minister Vasundhra Raje incharge of neighbouring state of Haryana has left her supporters in Rajasthan disappointed. Her loyalists were hoping that Ms Raje would be given charge of Rajasthan or made incharge of some important state like Gujarat. According to the
sources, the RSS has tightened its grip over the BJP by appointing a Sangh favourite functionary Kaptan Singh Solanki, as Rajasthan incharge. The decision come in light of the fact that the party wanted to give a free hand to state party chief Arun Chaturvedi in the state. Ms Raje’s supporters insisted that she be made incharge of Rajasthan and argued that she was the most visible face of the party in the desert state.
Ms Raje’s supporters termed the decision as good saying she wanted a neighbouring state to maintain her close link with Rajashtan but Haryana has only four BJP MLAs and the party has no one in Parliament from Haryana. She has the tough task to improve party’s prospects in the Haryana.
According to sources, now all eyes are set on party’s decision to elect a Leader of Opposition in absence of Ms Raje. There are several names under consideration for the post including a Sangh loyalist and former home minister Gulab Chand Kataria. Since the BJP lost power in the state, it has been experiencing factionalism. It took almost a year to constitute state executive while Mr Chaturvedi had been appointed president following the BJP’s poor performance.