OUR CORE BELIEF IS THAT DEVELOPMENT IS NOT PARTISAN

Bhajanlal Sharma has spent two years proving that a first-time MLA can run one of India's largest states with the certainty of a seasoned administrator. With an eye on developing new leadership in the state, the BJP had handpicked him to lead Rajasthan in December 2023. The choice surprised many within and outside the party.

- PRATUL SHARMA

Sharma, however, arrived in office with decades of organisational experience. His tenure since then has been marked by an assertive push for water security, investment mobilisation and administrative discipline, with the government claiming that it has delivered on 70 per cent of its manifesto commitments. The successful conduct of two high-octane industry events in two years—Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit and Pravasi Rajasthani Divas—has given him national and international visibility. Supporters describe him as a quiet, methodical operator, while critics question the speed of implementation and the government's stability.

In an interview with THE WEEK, Sharma defends the pace of development, and shares his achievements so far and plans for the future. Excerpts:

Q Your government says it is delivering election promises on time. Which ones have been delivered so far? And, what is the timeline for the rest?
When we assumed power, Rajasthan was struggling because of the failures of the previous Congress government. Farmers, youth, women, tribal communities and the poor had been deceived. Corruption was at its peak, and the paper leaks case was not just corruption but a betrayal of the future of Rajasthan's youth.

If we talk about our most clear and concrete achievements, we had promised to provide water to Rajasthan. With the support of the Union government, we launched the ERCP (Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project), which will ensure water supply to 17 districts.

Nearly one lakh jobs have been provided and recruitment for over 1.5 lakh posts is underway. To promote investment, MoUs worth ₹35 lakh crore were signed through Rising Rajasthan (in December 2024). Of these, projects worth ₹7 lakh crore have already been implemented.