Rajasthan: Incredible news and Saturday fever déjà vu

The first day in office saw the newly-appointed state BJP chief, Madan Lal Saini in a banter with chief minister Vasundhara Raje. The exchange between the two leaders was spontaneous and their remarks laced with humour and wit. 

Raje spoke about the conversation she had with him while breaking the news of his nomination for the post of Rajya Sabha MP. “I had to tell him twice that he has been chosen to represent the Rajya Sabha seat. The first time he couldn’t believe when I broke the news,” she said praising the man for his simplicity and unassuming persona.

Saini who was not to be left behind, pitched in with his own recollection of the events that transpired before a formal announcement of his name was made by the party. He endorsed what Raje said reminiscing about his conversation with then BJP president Ashok Parnami. “The CM summoned me shortly. I explained my inability to come on Saturday at first. She insisted. I told her that I am taking the next bus to Jaipur,” he told an audience in splits. 

Saini said that he was sceptical about appointments as he has a string of episodes where he was told that he is being considered for political appointments and tickets which never happened. “I had received a call from the national BJP president Amit Shah. He spoke to me and then informed me that my name had been recommended for the post of the president in Rajasthan,” Saini said, adding that the news sounded incredulous. 

Saini said he was once again asked to take charge of the office on Saturday, this time as party president.