Party has changed strategy due to popularity of Gehlot’s welfare schemes in Rajasthan. The party will now focus on the issues of alleged corruption and commission.
The BJP will stay away from its traditional Hindutva plank during the Assembly elections in Rajasthan. The saffron party would instead raise the issues of alleged “corruption and commission culture”. The BJP believes that it can counter Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s popular welfare schemes by bringing up the issues of alleged corruption. The ED’s action over the last few days has given ample hints about it. State BJP chief C.P. Joshi is keen to push the issue of “50 percent commission”. It was after a complaint from BJP’s Kirodi Lal Meena that the ED started conducting raids in cases related to the education sector. The matter includes issues related to paper leak and appointments by Rajasthan PSC. The raids have given two strong indications. One, the politics over raids will heat up in Rajasthan ahead of polls like what happened in Bengal and Karnataka. Two, the BJP will not project Vasundhara Raje as its CM candidate.
The BJP could not gain any political advantage from raids in Karnataka and Bengal. But it will keep its focus on the alleged corruption issues in Rajasthan as it does not have any issue against Gehlot. There might be efforts in future to drag some Congress leaders in corruption issues. BJP MP Kirodi Lal Meena, who is eying a central ministry post, has filed money laundering complaint against CM Ashok Gehlot’s son Vaibhav Gehlot. Similar allegations have already been levelled against Gehlot and his family members. Raje had levelled the same allegations against Gehlot in 2013. Then, Gehlot had hit back, saying that he would quit politics if allegations about his son having hotels and bungalows were proved. Nobody could prove anything till date.
When Sachin Pilot rebelled against his own party government in 2020, the ED was in action, raiding the Gehlot family for alleged money laundering cases. Nothing came out even then. The agency is again targeting CM Gehlot and his family when elections are just six months away.
The Enforcement Directorate has issued summons to several officers in paper leak and appointment cases. It indicates that the agency might tighten its grip over some Congress leaders as well. The Congress has hit back, terming the action as an intimidating tactic. However, Gehlot has welcomed the ED action, assuring that the local police would help. He has said that the probe into Sanjeevani society scam should also be initiated. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is facing serious allegations in this scam. Now, there are clear indications that the Congress would also raise the Sanjeevani Society scam during the polls.
In fact, CM Gehlot’s welfare schemes have given the Congress an edge over the BJP. The saffron party seems to be clueless in terms of issues to corner Gehlot. Moreover, there is more factionalism in the BJP than the Congress. Despite several organisational changes by the high command, the BJP is not in the picture as yet. State president C.P. Joshi is fighting alone. Raje and her supporters are neutral. Former state chief of BJP Satish Poonia is engaged in other responsibilities of the party. Therefore, the Congress does not have any significant challenge from the opposition. The schemes like OPS, Chiranjeevi Swasthya Yojana, cheap cylinders, etc. are already popular among people. What is worrying the BJP is that the Congress government will be repeated in Rajasthan if Gehlot’s schemes succeed in wooing voters in a huge number. BJP is not sure whether the Hindutva and polarising issues will work amid Gehlot’s schemes dominating the public discourse. It is clear that BJP’s traditional Hindutva agenda did not work in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka. So, taking its cue from Congress in Karnataka, the saffron party decided to focus on the issues of alleged corruption and commission culture in Rajasthan.