Raj BJP downplays rift ahead of bypolls

JAIPUR: The four assembly bypolls to be held in Rajasthan will be a test for state BJP president Satish Poonia as the party grapples with power struggles and leadership tussles. The by-polls are to be held in Sujangarh, Rajsamand, Sahada (Bhilwara) and Vallabhnagar (Udaipur) af ter the deaths of the sitting MLAs in the last five months. The dates for the polls have not been announced but they are likely to be held in March.

Analysts say the task on hand is not easy given that the rif t within the party may play spoiler and the ruling Congress will have an upper hand. The BJP is working hard to manage caste equations and strike a chord with voters by highlighting failures of the Congress government. Poonia has not been able to forge unity in the party with former chief minister Vasundhara Raje being more or less sidelined since af ter the 2018 assembly polls. Denying any rif t within the party, he said Raje will be giving her services to the party during the by-polls.