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ShareNew Delhi: The BJP has entrusted its deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, with the task of persuading Rajasthan BJP leader Vasundhara Raje to step down as leader of the opposition in the state assembly.
Earlier, BJP president Rajnath Singh and former party president Venkaiah Naidu had tried to convince the firebrand Raje, but failed. The party is hoping that a woman will be able to successfully tackle another woman.
A BJP leader likened the situation to a cricket match. "Winning or losing is decided in a 20-20 match. Test matches are usually drawn. This match between Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Dare Devils has ended in a draw," he sniggered.
About three months ago, the BJP parliamentary board had asked Raje to quit as leader of opposition. The decision was announced by BJP president Rajnath Singh, and apparently the media got the news before Raje -- or so her camp claims -- annoying her no end.
The BJP leadership said there was nothing special about Raje's case and similar changes were effected in other states where the party fared poorly. But it became a special case because of Raje. While the BJP leadership had its way elsewhere, in Rajasthan, Raje said she will take her own time before stepping down.
For three months now, the BJP is coming up with different excuses for Raje not quitting. First, she fell ill and naturally could not write a resignation letter. Then, as Venkaiah Naidu chose to explain, the party became preoccupied with the floods ravaging Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. After that, it was elections in three states.
The latest excuse that came on Thursday was that bypolls will be held in two assembly seats in Rajasthan. The party is also headed for organisational polls and a new president to replace Rajnath Singh would be elected. The situation has come to such a pass that party workers are sniggering that "the BJP has decided to leave it to the next party president to get Raje to quit".
Raje's defiance has become a cause for major embarrassment for the BJP president and rival parties are having a field day laughing over the saffron party's predicament.The BJP leadership is clearly divided on the issue with the "dominant camp", led by LK Advani, apparently favouring Raje. But the rift in leadership apart, what is worth noting is that the authority of the party's top decision-making body has been questioned by a party functionary.
