Amidst conjecture regarding the Chief Minister's position following the Bharatiya Janata Party's electoral triumph in Rajasthan, former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is currently engaged in a conspicuous 'show of strength.' On Tuesday, Raje actively reached out to 68 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), extending invitations for meetings, a move perceived as an assertive display of support. Presently, she has successfully met with 28 MLAs, including several independents, as per credible sources reported by India Today.
In the wake of the BJP's successful performance in the Rajasthan assembly polls, Vasundhara Raje is notably positioned as one of the leading contenders for the Chief Minister's role. The MLAs, as conveyed to news agency PTI, characterized these interactions as courtesy meetings, affirming their willingness to rally behind Raje should she be chosen by the party leadership for the state's top post.
The unfolding scenario is marked by heightened speculation regarding potential candidates for the Chief Minister's role, considering the BJP's return to power in the state with a commendable 115 seats in the recent elections. Despite the party's victory, an official announcement regarding the Chief Ministerial candidate is still pending.
Noteworthy aspirants for the position include Vasundhara Raje, who secured her victory in the assembly polls from the Jhalrapatan seat. Additionally, Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Arjun Meghwal, along with party MPs Baba Balaknath and Diya Kumari—also victorious in the assembly polls—are emerging as strong contenders.
Sources indicate that key BJP figures, including state in-charge Arun Singh and state unit president CP Joshi, are presently in Delhi for discussions with the party high command. Meetings have reportedly taken place with party president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Meanwhile, Shekhawat and Balaknath are in Delhi for the ongoing Parliament session.
Vasundhara Raje, who holds the position of national vice president within the BJP, has previously served as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan twice, from 2003 to 2008 and from 2013 to 2018. While she assumed the role of the party's chief ministerial face in earlier elections, the BJP, in recent times, opted for a campaign strategy without projecting a specific leader for the post, with Prime Minister Modi taking the lead. Following the party's setback in 2018 and shifts in internal dynamics, Raje experienced a period of perceived marginalization within the party. The ongoing developments underscore the intricate dynamics at play as the BJP deliberates on its leadership choices in the aftermath of its electoral success.
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