Vasundhara Raje Set to Receive a Major Responsibility

It wouldn’t be surprising if BJP gets its first-ever female national president in the form of Vasundhara Raje!!

Gopendra Nath Bhatt

Vasundhara Raje, the National Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), two-time Chief Minister of Rajasthan, and former Union Minister, recently had a photo op with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, smiling with a colorful bouquet. This photo has become a major topic of discussion in political circles. What is the hidden agenda behind this meeting of the two leaders ahead of the BJP national president election in January? The answer to this will unfold in the coming time, but it seems likely that Vasundhara Raje will soon appear in a new role, and a major responsibility seems to be on the horizon for her. It would not be surprising if BJP elects Vasundhara Raje as its first female national president!

The reason behind this is evident, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave special attention to Vasundhara Raje during his recent visit to Jaipur, and even mentioned her tenure in his speech. Following this, Modi personally invited Raje to New Delhi for a meeting. This important meeting took place in the new Parliament building in New Delhi. The body language of both leaders during the meeting signaled many new indications. Following the meeting between Raje and Modi, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and then unexpectedly visiting Raje at her New Delhi residence speaks volumes.

Political experts are aware that Vasundhara Raje is a senior leader in the BJP, even more senior than Prime Minister Narendra Modi, having served in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's cabinet when Modi was involved in organizational work. Senior BJP leaders, including L.K. Advani and Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, have always supported Raje. Her mother, Rajmata Vijay Raje Scindia, played a pivotal role in the establishment of the RSS, Bharatiya Janata Sangh, and BJP, contributing selflessly with her time, effort, and resources.

Political analysts believe that BJP didn't secure a majority in the last general elections on its own, which is why it had to rely on its NDA allies to form the first Modi government. Bihar's Nitish Kumar and Andhra Pradesh's Chandrababu Naidu played key roles in maintaining the stability of Modi’s government. After the controversial statement made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar during the winter session of Parliament, the opposition tried to make it an issue, heating up the political atmosphere. Modi understands the delicacy of this issue.

Political observers believe that after sharp and dynamic women leaders like Sushma Swaraj and Uma Bharti, BJP currently feels the absence of a strong female leader. The RSS and BJP believe that Vasundhara Raje is capable of filling this gap. After becoming Rajasthan's first female Chief Minister, Raje set remarkable records for the party’s victories in the state, making her a significant personality who remains particularly attractive to all communities, especially women.

Those who have been closely associated with Vasundhara Raje understand that even when she was Chief Minister of Rajasthan and Modi was about to become Prime Minister, she received offers to join the central government. However, she chose to stay focused on Rajasthan politics and declined those offers. Afterward, discussions emerged about sending her to another state as a governor, but she disproved such speculations. Following her recent meeting with Modi, various rumors are circulating.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, PM Narendra Modi, and the BJP top leadership have been highly impressed by Vasundhara Raje’s ability to maintain her dignity, discipline, and party loyalty, despite being sidelined from the party's mainstream for a long period and despite not being made Chief Minister after the last assembly elections. Her unmatched capacity became apparent when BJP suffered a crushing defeat in the 2019 general elections, losing 11 out of 25 seats in Rajasthan. Previously, under Raje’s leadership, the party had won all 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, known for his foresight and understanding of political nuances, will not ignore experienced regional leaders, even as he works with his current leadership. It is likely that Vasundhara Raje and her supporters will be adequately represented in the potential power shifts and organizational changes in both the Modi government and the Rajasthan government. No one would be surprised if Vasundhara Raje becomes the first-ever female national president of the BJP in the upcoming election in January.