Strange it may sound but BJP's most popular face in Rajasthan former chief minister Vasundhara Raje is away from ground. Even her tweets and retweets have no mention of Rajasthan politics.
The parivartan yatra of BJP without Raje's appearance looks changed. All senior central leaders are coming to give voice to parivartan but the familiar voice of Raje is missing. Party members and political experts are finding it difficult to get an answer to this rare ‘phenomenon'.
“She was there when we started the yatra. You will soon see her,” BJP state incharge Arun Singh said a one liner to assure that All is well within the party and one should not read between the lines.
But fact of the matter is Raje is conspicuous by her absence. Her reappearance in the political scene is likely on the culmination of parivartan yatra on September 25 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will come.
“Is BJP fathoming a ‘Raje-less' government this time in Rajasthan? The party then is trying to feel the pulse and reaction of public with rallies being led by leaders other than Raje, who had been face of the party for last 20 years. Central leadership is monitoring each and every frame of public meeting and people's reaction,” said Raghuveer Khangarot, a political observer.
For Vasundhara Raje, last five years in the party were not as per her wish. First BJP made Satish Poonia president of the state unit. Poonia, a known detractor of Raje, kept her at bay and she was not seen in action in any of the important agitation or official programmes of the party. Then after 3 and half years of Poonia's term C P Joshi was brought in – not much to the comfort of Raje.
“Perhaps BJP started thinking of Raje-less party since then. Party is testing water. If it feels that for return in power, Raje's charisma is mandatory. Then they may change strategy and the latter half of election campaign can be stitched around her,” said a party insider.
The Kailash Meghwal episode has also created fissure in the party composition. His open attack on union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, who is considered one of the most closest leader to Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not gone well with the central leadership. Then senior Meghwal's statement about the conspiracy to sideline Raje and her team has further deepened the wound .
“Meghwal at 89 has hardly any prospects left in politics. But he has spoiled prospects of many also. He could have just addressed his rivalry with Arjun Ram Meghwal and left the party. But by bringing in the conspiracy theory, he has just stirred up a hornet's nest,” said Ranjan Sinha, a political commentator.
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