BJP may replace its Rajasthan unit chief

The BJP is considering giving marching orders to its Rajasthan President as dissidence in the state spun out of control when several seniors, including six ministers boycotted a meeting of the party executive over the weekend.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha L K Advani, who attended the meeting was livid at the extent of discontent in the state and convened a meeting of senior leaders in Delhi on Monday evening, which was cancelled after general secretary in-charge Gopinath Munde failed to make it. Advani discussed the issue with party president Rajnath Singh and BJP sources said time has come for state President Mahesh Sharma to leave. Sharma is considered close to Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia, and anti-Scindia camp in the party has been sulking for long over the partisan conduct of affairs.

Apart from six ministers, 20 of 38 district presidents also boycotted the Friday-Saturday meeting. These leaders subsequently told the BJP high command about their difficulties and demanded the removal of both Sharma and Scindia. Since removing the CM is impossible, the high command is thinking over replacing Sharma with someone from the other camp.