BS Shekhawat award ceremony replete with political overtones and implications
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's son and son-in-law shared dais with his key political rival Vasundhara Raje, during award ceremony in his memory.
It was an occasion to revive memories, with President Pranab Mukherjee delivering the first Bhairon Singh Shekhawat memorial lecture and honoring Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling for public service and excellent governance on Monday.
On the dais were Governors of Rajasthan Kalayna Singh and Punjab VP Singh Badnore, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, her predecessor from Congress Ashok Gehlot, Shekhawat's son-in-law Narpat Singh Rajvi and his son Abhimanyu Singh.
It was Shekhawat who had brought Raje to state politics but she refused to be remotely controlled by him later. The equation between the two wasn't cordial and subsequently, Rajvi as a minister during her previous tenure chose to be among dissidents.
In her second tenure, beginning December 2013, Raje had refused to make Rajvi a minister and her government even asked him to vacate the house earmarked for Shekhawat as ex-chief minister.
So it was interesting to find his son Abhimanyu, organizer of the event, reminding her how Shekhawat was more fond of her than him, the kid.
But it was Punjab Governor VP Singh, an erstwhile royal and former BJP MP from Rajasthan, who stole the show when he suggested that Raje and Ashok Gehlot (her predecessor from Congress who shared dais with her for the first time), should work together to name Jaipur's international airport after Shekhawat.
Overall, the President delivered an impressive address. Many for the first time learned how good Sikkim's chief minister had been in delivery and how much Shekhawat remained connected to masses, while accommodating to opposition and counter ideas.
Rajvi has lacked that quality but Abhimanyu seems to be staking his claim for a ticket in next assembly elections, and a more important role in the BJP. Shekhawat being a Rajput, is a highly revered name among people of this caste.
Raje who is keen to retain Shekhawat's Rajput vote bank on her side, will have to tackle Shekhawat's spirit carefully. By organizing this event, his family has proved that it enjoys certain clout even today.