VASUNDHARA RAJE BACK ON CENTRE STAGE IN RAJASTHAN

She is on a pilgrimage, which has turned out to be a crowd-puller.

- AJIT MAINDOLA

After Cabinet rejig, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot last week proved himself to be the only power centre in Rajasthan Congress. Now, former CM and senior BJP leader Vasundhara Raje is out in a show of strength to give a message to her rivals. She is carrying out a religious tour in the state, which has turned out to be a crowd puller event.

The massive crowds in Raje's religious yatra is an indication of her hold among the public. The rivals are, therefore, having anxious moments. Raje is terming her yatra as a nonpolitical event, and taunting the rivals for politicizing it. Raje keeps connecting with the people during the “Dev Darshan Yatra” and gets grand rounds of applause. The state BJP unit has distanced itself from the yatra. State BJP president Satish Punia says that it is a personal yatra. With this, the BJP looks to be divided in two groups. The groupism in BJP is worrisome for the leadership.

Raje's activeness has given a message that she is the real leader of the saffron party in Rajasthan, though the elections are two years away.