Residents of state paying for discord in Cong, says Raje

JAIPUR: Former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje on Saturday regretted that the state’s people were paying for the discord within the ruling Congress and that names of Bharatiya Janata Party leaders were needlessly being dragged into the controversy over attempts to topple the state government.

In a statement shared on Twitter, Raje said the discord has coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic that has claimed over 500 lives and locust attacks.

She added crimes against women are at an all-time high and there are problems related to electricity across the state.

“And I’m only naming a few of the problems being faced by our people,” she said. “There is no point trying to drag BJP leaders’ names through the mud,” she said. Raje said the interest of people must remain paramount.

Raje, a two-time chief minister, until Saturday maintained silence over the ongoing political turmoil that has led to much speculation.

Many like chief minister Ashok Gehlot have questioned whether the BJP was divided since Raje had not defended her party nor attended its meetings since the political crisis erupted.

Political analyst Narayan Bareth said Raje remains one of BJP’S most charismatic leaders in the state.

“She still sees herself in the running for the chief minister’s post and would not want Pilot to join the BJP and be a potential rival,” Bareth said.