BJP’s Rajasthan Opp. chief soon

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The state Bharatiya Janata Party, after experiencing months of factionalism, is hopeful of getting a nod from the high command to constitute its executive and the party will soon have its Leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly.
The post lies vacant since Leader of the Opposition Vasundhara Raje resigned in February 2010.
According to sources, state BJP chief Arun Chaturvedi is likely to make a visit on Monday in this regard while Ms Raje has already been in Delhi. The RSS-backed Mr Chaturvedi was elected unopposed as president but he has been forced to work without his team due to opposition from an influential section of the saffron party.
Mr Chaturvedi was the unanimous choice when the then state president Om Mathur resigned following the BJP’s poor performance in the Assembly polls but his hands were tied as the party did not allow him to constitute the executive. According to the sources, Ms Raje’s loyalists also wanted their say in the executive.
The saffron leaders put a united face during the recently held Rajya Sabha polls despite their differences.
The pro-RSS leaders wanted that the party should return to its roots and suggested former home minister Gulab Chand Kataria for the post of Leader of the Opposition but the rival section was not ready to accept it.
Ms Raje still enjoys the support of majority of the BJP MLAs and her supporters argued that she was the most popular face of the saffron party in the state. According to sources, the high command has made up its mind to resolve the issue and the party will soon get a Leader of the Opposition.