I will make Rajasthan Congress-mukt: Poonia
cally relevant, says Bareth.
Shah, when he was party president, had encouraged a new, younger leadership, all close to the RSS, to take charge in many states. Raje’s ties with the RSS have, at best, been “tenuous”. Plus she shares cold vibes with Modi and Shah, believe observers.
Raje had stalled the appointment of union minister Gajendra Shekhawat as Rajasthan BJP president in 2018, which did not go down well with the party high command. And Raje has now put herself in a difficult situation and is fighting for political survival, says Bareth.
In fact, at a programme of fruit distribution organised by the party on the occasion of PM Modi’s birthday at a school for hearing impaired children, there was no mention of Raje. However, a statement from her office said she too would join in the programme.
She was also seen touring Dholpur and Jhalawar, her constituencies, on her own to meet people affected by heavy rains.
Bareth says Raje is a fighter, but the circumstances in the party are not in her favour.
Leaders close to Raje such as former party president Ashok Parnami, former ministers Yunus Khan, Prabhulal Saini, Kiran Maheshwari, former speaker Kailash Meghwal and deputy speaker Rao Rajendra Singh are not visible in the state’s politics any longer.
With Poonia set to form his new team in the party organisation, it remains to be seen if the party’s older leaders will be given any responsibility.
On this day of Vijaya Dadashmi, I vow that, with your support, we will make Rajasthan Congress-mukt
JAIPUR: Taking inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajasthan BJP president Satish Poonia on Tuesday vowed to make Rajasthan ‘ Congressmukt’ and said the infighting in the Congress would make the task easier for the BJP.
Poonia, 55, formally assumed charge as BJP president on Vijaya Dashami, at a ceremony at the BJP headquarters here. His appointment was announced on September 14 but since it was the inauspicious period, no formal ceremony had been held.
Those present included union minister Prakash Javadekar, national vice president Om Mathur, party general secretary (organization) Chandrashekhar, union ministers Kailash Choudhary, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Gajendra Shekhawat and MPS Diya Kumari and Rajyavrdhan Rathore.
Leader of opposition Gulab Chand Kataria, deputy leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore, former state party presidents Arun Chaturvedi and Ashok Parnami, BJP MLAS from Jaipur and other leaders and thousands of workers were also present.
Addressing the gathering, Poonia said, “On this day of
SATISH POONIA , state BJP chief
Vijaya Dadashmi, I vow that, with your support, we will make Rajasthan Congress-mukt.”
He said after the 2023 assembly elections, Congress would be defeated in Rajasthan and the state would become a BJP bastion.
Poonia said the BJP could achieve this objective earlier. He said the two bypolls in Mandawa and Khinvsar presented an opportunity to avenge the BJP’S defeat in the 2018 assembly elections and the injustice and lies meted out to the people by the Congress.
Poonia said generally anti-incumbency sets in after three or four years of government being in power but people are fed-up with the Congress government in just 10 months and the forthcoming local bodies’ elections also presented an opportunity to defeat the Congress.
“You won’t have to go to much trouble because the entire Congress is divided, i n Del hi between mother and son and in Rajasthan between the CM and deputy CM.”
He referred to the several development works done under former chief minister Vasundhara Raje’s government and said under chief minister Ashok Gehlot said development work has come to a halt and atrocities against Dalits and weaker sections are rising.
Poonia also took a dig at Gehlot’s son Vaibhav, saying the CM had certainly worked to find some gainful employment for his son. Poonia said when the time was right, he would reveal the real reason for Vaibhav becoming Rajasthan Cricket Association president.
Poonia thanked the party for giving a small party worker like him the honour to lead the party in the state. He also thanked the workers for their love and support.
“This is not a post that I am assuming but an assignment, a responsibility that I accept with humility. I assure you that I will never let you down,” he told cheering workers. “We will work to throw out the regime of loot and lies and establish a strong and principled organization.”
Poonia began the day by offering prayers at the Moti Doongri temple.