A Loyalist of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Mahesh Sharma’s nomination as president of the state unit of the BJP, has given Raje dissidents in the party an opportunity to raise their voices.The nomination was decided at a meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Board in Delhi on Tuesday. The decision invited mixed reactions at the BJP state headquarters in Jaipur on Wednesday. While Raje supporters rejoiced, rebels said that the BJP high command, which does not nominate a name for post of state BJP president, had favoured Raje and compelled party members to accept the decision.A senior BJP leader, on condition of anonymity, said that the entire process was a farce. “We were specially called to Delhi for a party high command meeting, and senior leaders talked to us individually. When our opinion did not matter, was there any need for this?” he questioned.The election for a new state BJP president, which was scheduled for last October, had been postponed following differences within the party. The dissidents, though not openly, had made it clear they would not vote in favour of Sharma. Despite strong opposition from members, Raje wanted Sharma to be Rajasthan BJP president.Meanwhile, several representations were made to senior leaders in New Delhi, compelling the BJP high command to intervene. Reportedly, during a meeting of the BJP leadership in the capital earlier this month, senior leaders had discussed the matter with leaders from Rajasthan, which also included the Chief Minister. “Sharma was Raje’s choice since the very beginning and the high command has granted her wish. This is like her winning a battle against us. Rajasthan is not the only state where elections were adjourned following disputes. However, at other places, elections were held after talks, intervention and in the presence of senior leaders. The same should have happened here as well,” said another senior MLA. The rebel group claims that this step would only make things harder for Raje and Sharma.On the other hand, former state BJP president Lalit Kishore Chaturvedi, known as a rebel, said there was no use rejecting the high command’s decision. “The high command’s word is final and the debate, if any, ends here. There’s no question of being happy or sad over the decision,” he said.
