Vasundhara Raje quits as leader of opposition in Rajasthan assembly

Former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje today quit as Leader of the Opposition in the assembly after a meeting of the BJP legislature party ahead of the start of the state Budget session.

After having defied the party high command for months to step down from the post following BJP's poor performance in Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, Raje had sent her resignation to it on October 23 last year but the letter was not forwarded to speaker Deependra Singh Shekhawat.

She submitted her resignation to the Speaker this morning, BJP whip R S Rathore told reporters here. 

Rathore said the election of the new leader of opposition would take place within a week after consultations with the party high command.

He said senior party leaders would come here in a day or two to talk to them to evolve a consensus on the issue of new leadership.

"Till then, the deputy leader of the party Ghanshyam Tiwari will lead the opposition," he said. 

Quoting Raje's resignation letter, Rathore said she would remain a "disciplined worker of the party and continue to raise public voice in the House. 

"Raje as a Leader of Opposition fulfilled her Constitutional obligations and responsibilities in the House since 2008," he said.

Later talking to reporters outside the Assembly, Raje said she tendered her resignation on the direction of party high command.

"Post or no-post, I have always worked for the people and my services towards them will continue," she said. 

On being asked whether she will get any party position in Delhi, she said,"Let's wait."