Arun Chaturvedi, the newly appointed BJP state unit president has begun travelling across the state, attempting to stitch the demoralised BJP cadres together again. Following the BJP’s disastrous defeats in the 2008 Assembly polls and then the parliamentary elections, the appointment of a young and relatively fresh president has lifted party spirits. Senior BJP leaders stated that Chaturvedi has been touring the state, meeting local leaders and grassroots workers attempting to mobilise party workers before the important municipal and panchayat elections later this year. Meanwhile, the Congress camp continues to function headless, after party president C P Joshi’s departure to Delhi as a Union Cabinet minister. Senior party leaders have reportedly written to their higher ups to appoint one as soon as possible to counter the BJP’s resurgence.

Elected, but not unopposed

The Congress party has drawn flak from Muslim organisations and leaders across the state following Narendra Bhudhaniya’s nomination and subsequent election — for a Rajya Sabha by-election. Early this month, 17 Muslim organisation under the banner of the Rajasthan Muslim Forum protested against the Congress decision not to field a Muslim candidate for the RS by-elections. Muslim leaders stated that in both the Assembly and parliamentary elections, the Congress enjoyed the support of close to 90 per cent of the state’s Muslim community, but the party was yet to give something back to them. A senior leader stated that the Congress has nominated yet another Jat candidate for the RS elections, though most sitting congress MLAs and MPs are Jats. Muslim leaders asserted that no Muslim was given a chance at the RS or LS elections since 2003 in Rajasthan.

... contd.