BJP leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje’s response to a supporter asking her to return to the post has sparked a fresh political debate in the state.
A video, which has gone viral, shows a supporter urging Raje, the two-time Chief Minister, to “become CM once again”.
Raje responded to the comment by raising both her hands and asking, “Is it in my hands?”
The 71-year-old BJP leader, who was once the poster girl of the party in Rajasthan, was in discussion after the 2023 Assembly election as she emerged as a key contender for the Chief Minister’s post. However, the party decided to choose Bhajanlal Sharma for the position.
Raje, a member of the influential Scindia royal family, was the first woman Chief Minister of Rajasthan and served two terms–2003–08 and 2013–18. However, she has apparently been remaining away from the political limelight lately, with her supporters alleging that she has been sidelined in the party.
Apparently reflecting on her political journey, the former Rajasthan Chief Minister, in August last year, said that in a leader’s political life, there are “ups and downs,” but if the leader does good work, their stature becomes permanent.
“All times are not the same in politics. Everyone has to go through ups and downs. There are three important things in politics: post, intoxication, and stature. Post and intoxication are not always there, but if a leader is available among workers, then his stature remains,” she said at a public event.
In September last year, Raje took a dig at political leaders, saying that some become self-important after minor achievements.