Raje meets Shah as rift-ridden Raj BJP faces bypolls

Amid reports of a rift in the party unit and facing 4 crucial bypolls in Rajasthan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah met former chief minister Vasundhara Raje in Delhi. The meeting is seen as an attempt to forge unity in the state unit ahead of crucial by-polls.

Speculation flew thick and fast after the hour-long meeting after months on Tuesday, sources said the two discussed the political scenario in several states but the focus was largely on Rajasthan.

Issues revolved around the state BJP unit, the working of the Congress government and the upcoming bypolls. The ongoing farmers’ protest also came up for the discussion.

Raje, the BJP national vice president, was in Delhi since last week and met several leaders there including national party president JP Nadda and union minister Nitin Gadkari and Rajasthan in-charge Arun Singh.

Sources say the party high command is worried about the conflict within the state unit that could harm electoral prospects and there is an effort to forge unity.