BJP Excludes Vasundhara Raje From Party's Key Poll Panels For Upcoming Rajasthan Assembly Elections

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced two important poll panels — the manifesto and election management committees for the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly elections, which are scheduled to take place in four months.

Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje has not been included in either of these committees.

The 25-member Sankalp Patra or manifesto committee will be led by Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, who has been appointed as the convenor.

Former MP Narayan Panchariya has been chosen as the head of the 21-member election management committee.

The exclusion of Vasundhara Raje from these panels has caused a stir on social media, with her name trending.

However, it is important to note that other potential chief ministerial candidates like Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Leader of the Opposition Rajendra Rathore, and former state president Satish Poonia are also not part of these committees.

According to reports, BJP sources claim that the drafting of the manifesto requires scholarly work, making Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, who holds the portfolio of Law and Justice, the best fit for the role of convenor.

The committee also includes co-convenors such as Rajya Sabha MPs Ghanshyam Tiwari and Kirodi Lal Meena, as well as former deputy speaker Rao Rajendra Singh.

The BJP election management panel is co-convened by Onkar Singh Lakhawat, a party veteran and former state general secretary, as well as Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, an MP and former Union minister.

According to reports, this committee will primarily handle the organisation of election rallies, including arrangements for tents, chairs, and food. As a result, it may not hold the same level of significance as that of a former chief minister or state president, which is why they have been excluded.

A BJP leader has mentioned that these panels were declared by state party president C P Joshi rather than the central party leadership. The leader claimed that while some names were chosen based on their ability to fulfill specific tasks, others were included to accommodate certain individuals or to maintain a balance in terms of caste representation.

When asked about the absence of Raje's name from these panels, the BJP's Rajasthan in-charge and Rajya Sabha MP, Arun Singh, suggested that it may be due to her stature.

He further mentioned that Raje would instead focus on campaigning for the polls.

Singh assured that Raje would still play a significant role despite not being part of the election management committee. As the party's national vice president and a two-term chief minister, she commands great respect, he added.

Singh emphasised that Raje would undertake a massive campaign, highlighting her importance within the party.