Rajasthan: Vasundhara Raje lands in Delhi amid tussle over CM post, says 'came to meet daughter-in-law'

India's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), after registering victory in state assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh is yet to decide uponthe chief ministers, asleaders in the race continue to lobby. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje reached Delhi on Wednesday night (Dec 6), just ahead of a probable party meeting on Thursday. It is being reported that the name of Rajasthan CM may be finalised in this meet.

When asked by the media about her purpose to visit Delhi just before the party meeting, Raje dodged the question saying she has come to visit her daughter-in-law. Raje, although a heavyweight in Rajasthan politics and one of the leaders in the race to become the CM, has seen the party lose elections under her watch in 2018 when she was the state chief minister. She has held the post twice in the past.

It is being said that the BJP is keen to give chance to a new face in the state.

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The race for CM heats up

Several BJP MPs who contested the assembly elections this time tendered their resignation and met PM Modi. Among these leaders are Rajyavardhan Rathore, Narendra Tomar, Prahlad Patel, Riti Pathak, Uday Pratap Singh, Kirodi Lal Meena and Diya Kumari.

This indicates these leaders' willingness to return to state politics and potentially put their hats in the ring for the post of chief minister.

Another name that has been thrown in the mix is that of 40-year-old Mahant Balaknath. He is from the Nath community just like Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Mahant Balaknath is an MP from Alwar.Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is another leader whose name is reportedly being considered by the party for the chief ministerial office.

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Vasundhara Raje is known among her supporters as 'Raani' (queen). In spite of BJP's tumble in elections under her stewardship, she does retain sizeable political capital. After the results were announced following the recently concluded counting of votes, several BJP MLAs had gone to meet Raje to pay her a courtesy visit. They claimed that it was not a show of strength.

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In recently concluded polls, BJP has been able to clinch majority mark all by itself. In the 200-seat legislative assembly, BJP has bagged 115 seats. The Congress, which was in power before elections got reduced to 69 seats. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) won in two constituencies while other parties registered victory on 13 seats.

(With inputs from agencies)