Former CM Vasundhara Raje
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
In an attempt to marginalize former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, BJP strategists have cut tickets for her supporters. In the list of 41 candidates, 29 people have a chance to contest elections for the first time. 7 MPs are also in the fray, but the leaders belonging to Vasundhara Raje’s camp have also voted. Not only have they decided to contest the elections, but have also started making announcements. Sources in Jaipur say that out of 41 assembly seats, BJP rebels can create trouble for the party in more than 18 seats. Candidates considered to be from Raje camp can give a tough challenge on at least 8 seats.
National General Secretary Arun Singh himself has come into the field to pacify the angry party leaders in Rajasthan. He talked to many leaders in Jaipur. Tried to convince some on phone. Meanwhile Vasundhara Raje is silent. She is behaving like a disciplined leader at this time. While all the leaders including Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Organization General Secretary Chandrashekhar, State co-in-charge Vijaya Rahatkar, Deputy Leader of Opposition Satish Poonia, Election Management Committee convenor Narayan Panchariya are busy in convincing the rebels. BJP President JP Nadda and Arun Singh spoke to Narpat Singh Rajvi, son-in-law of former Uttar Pradesh President Bhairo Singh Shekhawat. Union Minister Kailash Chaudhary is also being given the responsibility of removing the resentment of the leaders.
Rebels from first list seats can spoil the game
As much as all the BJP leaders including Narayan Panchariya are excited about the candidates for 41 seats, what is more worrying for them are the BJP leaders who have announced to contest the elections. In the last assembly elections, BJP had to face defeat on 39 out of these 41 seats. A source who was a minister in the Vasundhara government says that this time there could be a possibility of our candidates winning more than two dozen seats out of 39.