Congress woos Jats through Leela Maderna

JODHPUR: Be it the desperation to bring the annoyed Jat community back to the Congress or recognising the political legacy of Parasram Maderna, the party has inducted the late leader's daughter-in-law Leela Maderna to the post of PCC general secretary.
Leela is wife of ex-minister Mahipal Maderna, who is currently lodged in Jaipur Central Jail as an accused in the Bhanwari Devi abduction and murder case.
Leela is currently the chairperson of state's Apex Cooperative Bank and a member of Jodhpur Zila Parishad. She had contested the 2013 state assembly election from Osian but lost to the BJP candidate by 15,396 votes.
The development, believe political analysts, will trigger reconciliation of the Jat community which is reportedly upset with the Congress. "The community has always been pro-Congress but it turned anti-Gehlot, believing him to be a schemer in fixing Mahipal to demolish the legacy of Maderna family," said a community leader.
When Mahipal was made to resign and subsequently arrested under the Gehlot government, Leela abstained from directly attacking the Congress for not helping her husband. As Gehlot publicly announced a CBI inquiry against her husband, the community perceived it as an effort to harm the Maderna family.
There are different theories doing the round on Leela's induction on the PCC post. Some term the move as a Congress party's attempt to lure the Jats, but not with the will of Gehlot. "As PCC chief Sachin Pilot has been consistently trying to bring the rebels, or for that matter the anti-Gehlot leaders, back to the party fold, this is one such move," said a Congress leader.
Contrary to this belief, there are others who believe that it was the outcome of the family's clout with the Congress high command, which was aware of the Madernas' influence on the Jat community. This was recognised earlier also by giving the party ticket to Leela from her husband's constituency Osian in the 2013 election. Asserting the family's clout during Parasram Maderna's birthday celebrations, his granddaughter Divya Maderna had said, "We never go for the party tickets; they come to us."
Efforts were made by TOI to talk to Leela Maderna on her appointment as general secretary, but she could not be reached. Political analysts were of the view that she was already occupying two elected posts, showing her grip in the region. "She extensively travelled in her constituency during the election campaign and received emotional support from her community. She would soon strengthen her position in the party," said a party insider.
Many now believe that while she would focus on the state politics, her daughter Divya, who lobbied to contest the 2009 general election from Pali, would focus on the next election.