Bypoll loss sparks protests against Vasundhara Raje

Jaipur: A month is considered a long time in politics. For Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje, it didn’t take that long to change things.

Just when she was presenting her last Budget before the state goes to poll later this year, BJP MLA from Ramgarh in Alwar district, Gyan Deo Ahuja hogged the limelight.

Ahuja known for counting condoms in JNU and supporting cow vigilantes has allegedly blamed Mrs Raje for BJP’s crushing defeat in bypolls at Ajmer and Alwar Lok Sabha seats and Mandalgarh assembly constituency 10 days ago.

An audio clip that went viral, Ahuja, in conversation with a party worker, is heard saying that he “has already predicted the results” and “requested the organisational general secretary in Delhi to change the leadership in Rajasthan”.

When contacted to verify authenticity of the audio clip, Ahuja refused to comment. “I have nothing to say right now. Just wait and watch,” he said.

Ahuja may be cautious, but last week, Ashok Choudhary, president of BJP’s Kota district OBC wing, raised a similar demand in a letter to party chief Amit Shah. This was unthinkable not so long ago.

This prompted state BJP president Ashok Parnami known to be her loyalists to clarify that the assembly elections would be fought under the leadership of Vasundhara Raje. However, he was left red-faced by home minister Gulab Chand Kataria and MLA Narpat Singh Rajvi who said that such decisions are taken by the party high command.

However, the question of changing her is tricky. In the words of PCC chief Sachin Pilot: Raje is the fact of the BJP in the state. There is no one else recognised across different regions and communities.