Vasundhara Effect: Myth or Reality

Vasundhara Raje Scindia, a household name in Rajasthan, is going to play a huge role in determining the results of the 2023 Vidhan Sabha elections. Despite being pushed back by the BJP Central leadership, Vasundhara Raje is moving forward as a strong Chief Ministerial face if the BJP is returned to power.

Vasundhara Raje Scindia, the daughter of Vijayaraje Scindia and Jivajirao Scindia, started her political journey in 1984. She was made a member of the National Executive of the newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party. She was elected as a member of the 8th Rajasthan Assembly from Dholpur. Since then, she has won 5 Vidhan Sabha and 5 Lok Sabha elections, cementing her foothold in Rajasthan politics.

One of the biggest questions that arise in Rajasthan is why the central leadership of the BJP is trying to replace Vasundhara Raje as the primary face of the party in the state. Well, it all goes back to 2002 when Vasundhara, being in close proximity to then-Prime Minister Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, advised in favor of removing Narendra Modi as the Chief Minister of Gujarat over communal riots in 2002 (Gujarat). Rajasthan is not the only state where the central leadership is trying to project its formula of collective leadership, with Narendra Modi leading the pack.

During Vasundhara’s tenure as Chief Minister of Rajasthan from 2013-2018, the central leadership tried to appoint Gajendra Singh Shekhavat as the Rajasthan BJP president. However, faced with Vasundhara’s dissatisfaction, the BJP had to abandon the move.

Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi being projected as the face of the 2023 Vidhan Sabha elections by the BJP, Vasundhara’s influence is undeniable. Sources reveal her active participation in election rallies upon special requests from candidates, despite lacking a formal directive from the party.

After being repeatedly pushed down by the BJP central leadership, Vasundhara Raje is said to have fielded around 50 independent candidates to ensure that even if the BJP is returned to power, it shall not get a clear majority, leaving scope for Vasundhara to play her cards. As the political stage unfolds, the Vasundhara effect continues to blur the lines between myth and reality in the vibrant tapestry of Rajasthan politics.

As the 2023 Vidhan Sabha elections draw near, all eyes are on Rajasthan, where Vasundhara Raje’s strategic moves and enduring influence are poised to chart the course of political events. The unfolding saga of Vasundhara’s role in the elections prompts a critical examination of the intricate dynamics at play in the state’s political landscape. Will she emerge as the linchpin, reshaping the narrative of Rajasthan politics, or is the ‘Vasundhara effect’ merely a myth? Only time will reveal the answer, as the countdown to the elections ticks away.

Author

Himanshu Yadav

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Digital Desk NIO

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