Queen V, Vasundhara Raje

A main player in the coming assembly polls, Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje says she is not a professional politician. That, and the fact that she can be ‘everything to everyone’, makes her Rajasthan’s…

JAIPUR: Almost five years ago, when she was projected as a chief ministerial candidate for the BJP in run up to the Assembly elections, her detractors dismissed her as an outsider, voicing doubts about her political acumen.

Even within the BJP’s state unit—that was yet to come out of the shadows of stalwarts like Bhairon Singh Shekhawat—many questions were raised about her ability to lead a party that had a mere sprinkling of women leaders.

Even political analysts scoffed at the projection of the royal scion who despite having served as external affairs minister in the Vajpayee-led NDA government, was perceived as a socialite more at ease in sharing conversations with Page 3 class, than listening to the plight of Gurjars and Jat voters.

It was a determination to prove she had not merely inherited her career in politics from her mother, that made this graduate from Sophia College, Mumbai, to take the challenge and launch a state-wide ‘parivartan yatra’ against the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress. And the 2003 poll saw BJP score an unprecedented victory.

Five years down the line, Vasundhara Raje Scindia finds herself in no different situation.With some of her one-time cronies initiating a whisper campaign against her at a time when Congress has raised its pitch over charges of corruption and favouritism, she has almost become an ‘outsider’, an old loyalist confides.

Her handling of Gurjar agitations during two consecutive years and the incidents of police firing, opposition’s concern over deteriorating law and order and allegations of corruption in dubious land deals and investments projects have made her task more challenging this time.

Princess’ day out
“I am not a professional politician. When I was guided to politics I never thought that I would get an opportunity to serve this state as a chief minister. Today I feel satisfied that I could make a difference in the lives of common people and that is my biggest achievement so far,’’ says the royal scion, in a mood of introspection, after returning from a whirlwind campaign in the state.

Having been in politics for over two decades, Raje is described by critics as a self-styled princess with a mind of her own, who is meticulous about her chiffon saris and matching ornaments.

And though critics accused her of being partial to officials who play a key role in official and unofficial media campaigns, she claims to be the last person to want her picture on a hoarding. “I never thought I was photogenic, rather my other sisters have been pretty and at ease before camera. That’s one reason that all our family albums have barely a few pictures of mine.”

Courts controversy
Her meetings with the likes of controversial Godman Chandraswami, whose visit to Jaipur incidentally coincided with some political development, be it the stand-off with the Gurjar leaders over reservation or the trust vote for the UPA government, always gave some food for thought to the opposition. But Raje seems to be taking these controversial events, with a sense of ease realising that’s the price one has to pay while in public (political) life.

Whether it was publication of a controversial book giving an account of her troubled married life and her controversial lifestyle, or her projection as a goddess by her die-hard fans, the Maharani of Dholpur seems to have learnt to ignore them.

“It pains me to see that we still have very strong gender biases against women. When people do not find anything against a woman, the most easy thing  is character-assassination,’’ says the first woman chief minister of the state, with a sense of regret.

Broken promises
However, state politics may not be all about gender and even the opposition declines to make her royal background or comfort in high society her disqualification for the CM’s job. “We don’t have any issues with her royal background or lifestyle. But she has to be accountable to people for promises she made before coming to power,’’ says Pradesh Congress Committee president CP Joshi.

In fact some critics feel the princess of Gwalior gets carried away while making promises during the election campaigns, and forgets to distinguish between a democratic and dictatorial set-up.

“Last time she came to power with several promises to Gurjars. But now the issue is lost in a blame game between state and central government.Was she not aware of these issues prior to the 2003 polls?’’ asks Prahlad Gunjal, who parted ways with BJP over reservation to Gurjars. But with another Gurjar leader Kirori Singh Bhainsla on her side, Raje apparently played a masterstroke more than three months ago, when she announced reservation to other castes.

But critics believe she delayed decisions when she should have acted at once. And Raje seems aware of some of her shortcomings. “Looking back I do feel I could have taken certain decisions quickly. But Rajasthan is a big state and one decision has far-reaching consequences. My conscience is clear and in the core of my heart I know I have tried my level best,’’ says the chief minister.