Power play among the young and old

The recent utterances of the former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje, have brought her to the centre of a political storm, and has hinted at signals of dissent within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) internal circle in Rajasthan.

Ms. Raje, who does not exercise power at present, had been asking to give responsibilities to loyal party workers. Widely recognised for her grassroots leadership, Ms. Raje had launched a ‘Jansamvad Yatra’ along with her son, the MP of Jhalawar-Baran, Dushyant Singh, as a public outreach event. Addressing a gathering at Manohar Thana, the former CM thanked the public for their support and affection and highlighted her long association with the region. Calling upon the people to maintain their love and trust, Ms. Raje said that some small issues would always keep coming up, “someone’s house is not getting built, someone’s pension is not being released, someone has not received [adequate] compensation. Someone else got it, I didn’t, that also happens. This is the world, it goes on. But, together, we will try to resolve these issues,” she said.