Do BJP high command–RSS want to run Rajasthan by remote control?

A powerful RSS functionary Ramlal’s two-day Jaipur visit once again fuels a prevailing perception whether BJP high command–RSS wants to run Rajasthan through remote control.  It may be a tragedy of circumstances that even after winning all 25 Lok Sabha seats for Narendra Modi, the lady Chief Minister of Rajasthan never got her “due”  in the political matters related to Rajasthan, including the nomination of few MPs for the Central Cabinet. 

Since Narendra Modi’s took over, a “particular negative perception”  has been tried to be circulated by a particular group of BJP leaders in New Delhi and Jaipur  painting Chief Minister in a poor taste. The same impression continued after Amit Shah’s takeover of the party affairs. However, subsequently, by realising ground realities in Rajasthan, the Prime Minister started appreciating Vasundhara Raje’s developmental agenda and performance in the desert state.

However, by taking a “U” turn, during his recent Udaipur visit, the Prime Minister did not demonstrate the same gesture, which again fueled the speculation about the future of the Chief Minister and there was a talk in power corridors about her likely induction in the Union Cabinet as the Defence Minister. But that did not happen and Raje returned from Delhi Darbar as the Chief Minister only.  It only indicates that the BJP high command has finally reconciled with the ground realities in Rajasthan, where nothing much can be done in the party and the government, without actively taking the Chief Minister into confidence.  

Knowledgeable sources say that Amit Shah, during his Jaipur visit in July, had also given a similar report to the Prime Minister that it will not be advisable to change the leadership at this critical juncture, where only after one year, the party is going to face Assembly elections.  However, it has been reportedly decided by the BJP high command and RSS to keep the Chief Minister into a “ceremonial confidence” and to take active participation in the decision making process related to party and government affairs in Rajasthan, which includes the distribution of Assembly tickets for the coming polls. Political observers feel that in this way, BJP high command and RSS is trying to take over the command at remote level.

Another important aspect of this prevailing Rajasthan scenario is that Narendra Modi and Amit Shah know well that these days elections are not won by the Chief Ministers, they are being continuously won by a two-member team of Modi and Amit Shah. Everyone in the party, including the RSS, knows well that Amit Shah is an exceptional and brilliant combination of strategy and execution and on this pattern he is quite confident to sweep Rajasthan assembly polls like he did in UP. So, there is no harm to continue with the same Chief Minister, while trying to have a major say in the decision making process of the party.

After org secy, BJP may get a new state chief

Now, with this background,  Amit Shah has recently appointed one UP politician Chandrashekar as Organisation Secretary for the state BJP, who, along with V. Satish is going to play a key role in the appointments of remaining Chairmen,  Boards and Councils and also in ticket distribution in the upcoming Assembly elections … and now one more powerful and trusted Amit Shah confident Ramlal is in the state capital for the last two days.  

During his stay, he had a crucial three-hour long meeting with the Chief Minister this afternoon at her residence, in which a variety of issues have reported to be discussed, which also includes the likely replacement of Ashok Parnami by some centrally “sponsored person”. There is a speculation that Ramlal has reportedly suggested four names for her consideration, which includes Gulab Chand Kataria, Om Birla, Arjun Meghwal etc.  Similarly, Madam has also reportedly suggested the name of Shrichand Kripalani  and may be Nihal Chand Meghwal.  Ramlal also met a number of Ministers, MLAs and Local bodies’ Chairmen.

In this entire process, interestingly, a low profile Bhupendra Yadav was also present, as a nominee of Amit Shah and also as a Rajasthan expert.  Yadav maintains a very tactful balance between Raje, State BJP and local RSS leaders, though basically the job of “liaison” between Raje and RSS is being performed well by a hardcore loyalist Ashok Parnami and things have also improved considerably between RSS and the government.  Therefore, in case of a likely shifting of Parnami from the party Chief’s post, Raje is likely to induct him as a powerful Minister in her cabinet. 

Now, the crux of the story is that Ramlal’s Jaipur visit, which is followed by his Karauli and Bharatpur visit on Friday, happens only to be a part of BJP high command’s well thought strategy to control Rajasthan affairs, especially in an election year, through remote control, but at the same time, also keeping the lady Chief Minister into confidence.  In this context, political observers feel that this may be a distant dream for the party and RSS, while knowing well the style and functioning of the grassroots and powerful Chief Minister, where you may, of course have some “concessions and adjustments”, but can’t hijack or take away the crucial decision making process from the Chief Minister, at least in the area of ticket distribution and political appointments.