BJP leader’s show of strength

JAIPUR: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former MLA Diya Kumari organised a lunch that was aimed to be a show of strength ahead of the Lok Sabha elections here on Saturday.

On the face of it, the lunch was organised to celebrate Kumari’s birthday. However, the political message was clear. Kumari is reportedly seeking a Lok Sabha ticket from Jaipur while the party might field her from the Tonk-sawai Madhopur seat. Union minister Rajyavardhan Rathore is MP from Jaipur rural seat and the BJP might not find it feasible to filed Rajputs from Jaipur city and Jaipur rural seats. Asked about this, Kumari said in the past Congress had fielded Brahmin candidates on both seats.

The lunch where senior party leaders and hundreds of supporters turned up was a clear indication of her intention to contest the polls. She said she would contest if the party gave her a ticket. She also said her family has cordial ties with the BJP and Congress leadership but she said she was not an opportunist and would not leave the party for a ticket.

Kumari was in Delhi this week for a couple of days and it was being speculated that she had gone in connection with her candidature for the polls. She, however, denied that her trip was connected to the polls. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, state BJP President Madan Lal Saini and a number of Congress and BJP leaders wished Kumari. Hundreds of well-wishers from Jaipur and her former constituency, Sawai Madhopur, also came to wish her. Apart from politicians, religious priests, members of the erstwhile royal families too offered wishes.