Vasundhara Raje wants to connect to her state

Rajasthan BJP leader Vasundhara Raje, who has been forced to quit as leader of opposition in the assembly, intends to go back to the state and try to position herself as the tallest leader there.

Her resignation may have given a sense of satisfaction to BJP president Rajnath Singh, but it has not solved the problems for the party. Battle lines appeared to have hardened in the state unit and a game of one-upmanship is likely to ensue between Raje’s camp and her adversaries.

Raje is not shying away. Sources said she is not interested in taking any position in the central leadership — something she had insisted on. Her position now, as stated in her 3-page note to Advani, is that Rajasthan is her soul and “the soul cannot be separated from the body”. “For serving people of Rajasthan, I do not need any post but the affection of the people, and that I have,” she said.

There was talk of Raje being advised by her mentors to lie low for some time. Party polls are due in December when Rajnath would be replaced. The election for legislature party leader could happen soon after and Raje could be re-elected to the post she was forced to quit.