Jaipur: The BJP is in a dilemma over the role of Rajasthan’s former CM Vasundhara Raje, the national vice-president of the party and even after the electoral loss in the state she remains the BJP’s most-popular leader and is literally indispensable.
In mid-January, the BJP as a major decision decided to appoint Raje along with the Madhya Pradesh and the Chhattisgarh former CMs as the party’s vice-presidents to withdraw them from their respective states. But in case of Raje, the party is unable to find a substitute, who could lead the party to electoral success in the Lok Sabha polls. It is learnt Raje has made up her mind to contest the Lok Sabha polls and even the party cadre feels she is confident of a win.
On five occasions, she was elected to Lok Sabha from Jhalawar and served as a Union minister of state before the party sent her to head the Rajasthan campaign after late Bhairon Singh Shekhawat became the country’s Vice-President. Raje, who has served three terms as the CM has emerged as the tallest saffron outfir leader in the state and the party cadre feels only she could lead the party’s election campaign in 2014.
But she has expressed a desire to contest either from Jhalawar or Jaipur. The Jhalawar LS constituency was represented by her son Dushyant Singh in the last two occasions. In case, she decides to contest from Jhalawar, her son would contest the Jhalarapatan Vidhan Sabha seat from where Raje won on three occasions.
The BJP senior leadership is keen on making Vasundhara Raje in-charge of the key Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal, as it feels Raje by now has good experience of the electoral battles and she could be effective in Uttar Pradesh after the SP and BSP alliance there and only a seasoned politician like Raje will be able to thwart the threat from the mighty SP and BSP alliance. Likewise, it feels Raje could be effective in Maharashtra, as she is a Maratha and could prove to be an asset to the party to face the challenge of the Congress and NCP.
The party feels the BJP is not in a too happy position in Maharashtra and the party needs a seasoned leader to give it a strong leadership in selection of candidates with Shiv Sena as an alliance partner. The leadership also feels the BJP stands a better chance to win 8-10 seats in West Bengal and Raje as a woman could provide an ideal rival to Mamata Bannerjee, the Trinamool Congress chief and the CM.