Faction-ridden Rajasthan BJP and Vasundhara Raje

In Rajasthan, BJP has made up its mind to sideline former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. The party is finding it tough to douse fires in its faction-ridden Rajasthan unit Ticket distribution is another headache.Over the past week, fights have broken out over at least a dozen seats, especially those on which MPs have been fielded, including Vidyadhar Nagar, Jhotwara, Kishangarh, Nagar, Tonk, Sanchore, and Kotputli.Disgruntled ticket aspirants and their supporters are not following state leaders’ command to make peace and work together for the official candidate..The party is ignoring tickets to many sitting MLAs even. This is visible in the first list of candidates. In the list, tickets of MLAs who had won two-three times, have been denied and party MPs have been fielded in their place. Obviously dissatisfaction has also come to the fore. Dissatisfaction is such that the party is hesitant in releasing the second list.
The question is how will BJP do damage control? What is the status of the party leaders who have been entrusted with the responsibility of appeasing the dissidents? How much weight in his words? Why would the dissidents pacify themselves by believing his words? These questions are being raised because Vasundhara has also been kept away from damage control. Whereas she has been the chief minister of the state twice. His popularity is undoubted, which even the BJP leadership may not express but definitely feels. A large section of party leaders and workers still consider her as their leader,believes her words and assurances. 
The rest of the leaders, who have been assigned the task to cool down furious party leaders and their supporters, are not in a position to give any kind of assurance at their own level. Experts say that the leaders who are feeling offended by depriving the party ticket, want concrete assurances to calm down. They expect that the party may not make him an MLA or MP, but if it comes to power, it should at least assure him of political appointment as per his stature. This solid assurance can be given only by a party leader who himself holds an influential position in the party and in government. Whose opinion is accepted by the top leadership of the party or who, as the head of the government, has the powers of political appointment. 
If we look at this scale, the picture becomes clear automatically. Apart from Vasundhara, there is no other BJP leader in the state who can appease angry partymen by giving them concrete assurances. Then how will other leaders, engaged in damage control or be able to pacify their own people? Whereas, if we talk about Vasundhara, she still holds that status. That is why her loyal party leaders and workers are not ready to leave her. This can also be confirmed from Vasundhara's recent yatras and public meetings. By ignoring  party programs, she took out her own Devdarshan like yatras and hold public meetings. In which not only leaders of his camp were present, but a sizeable crowd also gathered. Ignoring the resentment of the party leadership, all of them are still associated with Madam with the belief that if she becomes the Chief Minister, they will definitely be rewarded for their loyalty. 
Political pundits believe that if BJP is really serious about returning to power in Rajasthan, then it will have to take all state stalwarts along. Their stature will have to be respected and responsibilities will have to be handed over accordingly. The party will soon have to decide whether its aim is only to show doors to Vasundhara or to include Rajasthan again in its fold. If the real objective is to clip the wings of Madam, then it is not going to be easy for the party to return to power in the state.

(Anil Chaturvedi is a senior journalist and a political analyst. He is based in Jaipur)