Stung by unprecedented rebellion within its ranks, BJP in Rajasthan has swung into action to control the damage ahead of the polls, with both Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and party's national vice-president Om Prakash Mathur along with convener of the state election committee, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, engaged in preventing the fire from spreading to other quarters.
After the first list of 131 candidates was declared by the BJP's parliamentary board on Sunday, sitting legislators and ministers who were dropped have resigned and threatened to contest against the party as Independents. Among the leaders who have been vocal about their displeasure is sitting legislator from Ramganj Mandi, Kota, Chandrakanta Meghwal, who has been denied a ticket this time. Miffed over the party decision to drop her, Meghwal had warned she would contest the polls as an Independent. On Tuesday, she was summoned to Jaipur where she met the Chief Minister.
After meeting Raje, Meghwal told reporters outside Raje's residence, "I will not contest elections as a rebel candidate. We will all work together to make the party win. Party has given the ticket to senior leader Madan Dilawar. There are no differences between us." Madan Dilawar, an RSS poster boy, was given the ticket and brought back from political hiatus after 10 years.
Besides Raje and Mathur, state general secretary Chandrashekhar, state BJP president Madan Lal Saini stepped in to rein in the rebels. "The seniors are talking to the disgruntled MLAs, making personal contact and calling them for meeting. "Every worker is a mass leader. The process of ticket-distribution has been done after thorough micro-management. All workers are completely dedicated to the party. Ticket distribution has been done properly and there is enthusiasm among the cadre," BJP national vice-president Om Prakash Mathur told media persons here.
"BJP will be forming the government with clear majority," Mathur claimed.
MLA from Kishangarh in Ajmer, Bhagirath Chaudhary, also met the CM. BJP denied him a ticket in favour of a young candidate following which BJP office-bearers of Kishangarh assembly constituency sent in their resignations to party president Amit Shah. There have been no assurances from either side after the meeting, sources said.
The War Room
Both CM Vasundhara Raje and party’s national vice-president Om Prakash Mathur along with convener of the state election committee, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, are engaged in preventing the fire from spreading. They are being assisted by other leaders.
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