New Delhi, Feb. 20: The new BJP chief, Mr Nitin Gadkari, insisting on disciplining the saffron heavyweights, is all set to be hit by a desert storm. Former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje fired the first salvo when she not merely boycotted the national
conclave in Indore but also refused to step down as Leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly. After the debacle in the Rajasthan Assembly election, the BJP had been asking for Ms Raje’s resignation.
Under pressure she had assured former BJP chief Rajnath Singh that she was willing to quit the post. Though she tendered her resignation to the BJP parliamentary board, she is yet to submit it to the Assembly Speaker. Now, with Mr Gadkari at the helm of party affairs, Ms Raje, in a change of stance, has refused to step down or hand over her resignation to the Assembly Speaker.
"She is not willing to be another Uma Bharti," a close associate of Ms Raje said. Ms Raje is believed to have told the party leadership that they "can take any action they want to, but she will not step down".
Party sources disclosed that though Ms Raje cited personal reasons for not attending the BJP national executive, her absence raised eyebrows in BJP circles. There is also talk of the party leadership contemplating strict action against her.
Sources said this U-turn by Ms Raje had left even Mr Gadkari puzzled; he had last month claimed that the Rajasthan problem was over. Mr Gadkari had held a meeting with Ms Raje and some senior leaders of the state unit where Ms Raje had assured Mr Gadkari that she would submit her resignation at the earliest to the Assembly Speaker. Sources disclosed that Mr Gadkari was planning to accommodate her in his new team as a party general secretary.
With the Rajasthan Assembly session starting from February 22, the state unit is looking to its central leadership for a decision.
Yojna Gusai