At a Jaipur event, former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje, spoke emotionally about the challenges in politics. She highlighted that not every moment in politics is the same and everyone faces ups and downs. On Saturday, the induction ceremony for the new Rajasthan BJP President Madan Rathore took place. National Vice President of BJP and former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje attended and offered her congratulations to Madan Rathore.
Addressing party leaders and workers at the event, Vasundhara Raje said that politics is full of fluctuations. Like positions and prestige which don't last forever, but a leader's stature remains if they stay connected with the workers. The journey in politics is not easy and can have its share of setbacks, but one must remain within the party and work for it.
Expressing her congratulations to Madan Rathore, she mentioned that his path isn’t simple. Handling these people (party workers) is no easy task. Our slogan is 'Together for Everyone’s Growth, with Everyone’s Trust.' Many have previously failed to fulfill this motto.
It should be noted that after winning the previous Rajasthan Assembly elections, BJP replaced Vasundhara Raje with Bhajan Lal Sharma, who became the Chief Minister for the first time from Sanganer. Vasuundhara Raje faced setbacks through the election process, being sidelined and not presented as the CM candidate. Her supporters were also overlooked, causing considerable upheaval in the political scene. Her recent statements are perceived as linked to these incidents.
Who is Madan Rathore?
Madan Rathore, born in 1950 in Raipur of Pali district, graduated in Mathematics from Rajasthan University. In 1962 he became a volunteer for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and later served as an RSS activist in the 1970s. He has also been involved in the textile business. He has served as BJP's Pali District President four times. Rathore has been an MLA from Sumerpur in Pali in 2003 and 2013. Though he didn’t get the ticket in 2008, 2018, and 2023, he was later sent to Rajya Sabha by the party. Currently, he is a Rajya Sabha MP for BJP and has been entrusted with significant responsibility ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Reasons for Betting on Madan Rathore
Political analysts believe that BJP aims to strengthen its OBC vote bank by appointing Madan Rathore as the state president. Coming from the OBC Ghanchi community, Rathore's appointment is an attempt by BJP to balance caste equations and solidify the pivotal OBC vote bank, crucial in determining victories in the state. Over 50% of voters in Rajasthan come from the OBC category, encompassing several castes, and the OBC electorate played a significant role in the Lok Sabha elections as well.
