Rajasthan polls: Rebellion over candidate selection has BJP in trouble
Will pressure tactics by BJP rebels have a significant impact on the election outcome? Unlikely, say political experts
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) decision to field half-a-dozen MPs as candidates in the Rajasthan Assembly battle has triggered a near mutiny in the party, with those denied ticket crying foul.
With barely just over a month left for the elections, the BJP has formed a four-member committee to placate the rebels who have vowed to work against the MPs contesting the upcoming state Assembly polls.
The BJP, however, feels it is playing the right strategy since this will not only clip the wings of former chief minister Vasundara Raje – who is not seeing eye to eye with the national leadership – but will also help it to win the elections against the ruling Congress party.
But aggrieved BJP leaders in the state have decided to unleash a parallel campaign against the MPs parachuted into the state.
“There is a problem in the party, and it has become apparent that some members are campaigning against the MPs contesting assembly elections,” admitted Arun Chaturnvedi, a former state president who is part of the committee to pacify the rebels.
“We are trying to convince everyone not to rebel against the party decision. We are confident we will be able to convince them to end their rebellion and work for the victory of the party,” Chaturvedi said.
BJP’s problems
The problem started almost 10 days ago when the party’s central leadership asked at least seven MPs to contest the Rajasthan elections. It is now being said that the BJP will also ask some more MPs, union ministers and former Union ministers to contest the elections and vacate their seats at the national level.
Annoyed, several senior BJP members, including outgoing and former MLAs, are protesting as they feel it was their chance to contest, which is being taken away by the MPs.
“The problem for the BJP right now is that instead of contesting against the Congress, we are fighting amongst each other. We are confident we will be able to solve this problem,” Chaturvedi told The Federal.
“If required, we will seek the help of senior leaders to convince the rebel leaders not to act against the party. We are also mulling over the possibility of including some senior members and Union ministers to talk to the MLAs and MLA aspirants to end the crisis at the earliest,” he said.
Among the MPs handpicked to try their luck in the Assembly polls are former Union minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Kirori Lal Meena, Diya Kumari, Baba Balaknath, Narendra Kumar, Bhagirath Choudhary and Devji Patel.
Chief ministerial race
By sidelining Vasundhara Raje and by not making her the chief ministerial candidate, the BJP is allowing Union ministers and MPs to play a decisive role in the election campaign.
“These leaders will add value to the council of ministers in Rajasthan. It is just not about looking for a chief ministerial candidate but the party is working to develop leaders In Rajasthan instead of depending on only one person as it used to be earlier,” said a senior BJP leader.
Even as efforts are on to end the rebellion, the BJP leadership may ask more Union ministers including Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Arjun Ram Meghwal to contest the assembly battle.
A BJP leader said: “We are confident of victory in Rajasthan. So, the party believes this is the best time to initiate a change in the leadership in the state unit. While the final decision on the chief minister will be taken only after the results, the experiment is a test for the MPs who have been asked to contest.
“As a matter of strategy, the BJP is keen that a senior leader should contest against chief minister Ashok Gehlot from Sardarpura. The BJP is talking to senior leaders to look for a possible candidate,” the BJP leader added.
BJP’s strength
Political analysts believe the rebels’ pressure tactics will not have a significant impact on the outcome of the elections.
“The BJP is essentially a cadre-based party. It is the organisational strength of the BJP that ensures the victory of candidates. Without the help of the party or its organisations, these aspirants may not win a seat on their own. I think this rebellion will continue for a few days but it will eventually settle down,” said RD Gurjar, a Jaipur-based political and retired professor at the Rajasthan University.