United Colours Of Saffron? Gajendra Shekhawat Reaches Out To Vasundhara Raje Ahead Of PM Modi's Rajasthan Rally

Preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's event in Rajasthan, saw Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat reaching out to former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, despite their reported differences.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) kicked off their campaign for the state elections with a "Parivartan Maha Sammelan" in Jaipur today, where the Prime Minister is expected to address the crowd.

This event marks the culmination of the BJP's four-phase "Parivartan Yatras" across Rajasthan, which aimed to build momentum for the party ahead of the elections.

In the last two days, Vasundhara Raje was absent from the Yatra in her own constituency of Jhalawar and Kota.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat's unexpected visit to her is seen as a gesture to show that Raje is aligned with the BJP and supports the combined leadership approach of the Parivartan Yatra.

The relationship between the two leaders has been strained ever since Raje opposed Shekhawat's appointment as BJP chief in Rajasthan in 2018.

She reportedly believed that his appointment would alienate the Jat community from the party in the 2018 elections.

After meeting with Shekhawat, Raje also attended a core committee meeting of the BJP held at night in Jaipur.

Today's BJP rally in Dadiya, located 16 km south of Jaipur, will also include a public meeting on the women's reservation bill, organised by the BJP's women's wing.

They will oversee 42 blocks of the "Parivartan Sankalp Mahasabha" and welcome the PM with flower petals as he arrives on an open jeep.

Prior to the rally, the Prime Minister will visit the memorial of Deendayal Upadhyaya, which is situated in his hometown of Dhankya Village, approximately 40 km away from the event venue.