Jaitley Calls Rajasthan Debacle a 'Matter of Concern', Dials up Vasundhara Raje for Corrective Measures

New Delhi: Calling the outcome of the recent by-polls in Rajasthan “a matter of concern”, Finance Minister and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley has said the party is examining the reasons behind recent electoral debacle.

“I have spoken to the chief minister. And the party is working on corrective measures if they are necessary," Jaitley told News18 in an exclusive interview.

In a major setback to the party, BJP lost Lok Sabha by-polls to Ajmer and Alwar constituencies to the opposition Congress by substantive margins. Both seats were held by the BJP and the elections were necessitated after the death of the sitting MPs.

The results were being seen as a major jolt to the Vasundhara Raje government just 10 months ahead of the Assembly elections.

BJP also lost the by-elections to the lone Assembly seat to the Congress despite an independent candidate polling more than 30 thousand votes in a triangular fight.

But the margin of defeat in both Alwar and Ajmer has become a matter of worry for the party. BJP lost Alwar by more than 1.9 lakh votes, and Ajmer by more than 80,000.

Alwar, in the last two years, has registered many incidents of cow-vigilantism and communal polarisation.

BJP won the last Assembly polls in the state with a three-fourth majority. Later in the Lok Sabha elections, party trounced Congress to win all 25 seats.

Farmer’s agitation in Rajasthan last year has been a matter of concern for the BJP which has already peaked in the state.