‘Threat to Raje’ is a former schoolteacher who sticks to the south

Though Raje’s tactic proved ultimately successful with Kataria calling off the yatra,it is Kataria whom senior BJP leders see as the winner — at least in terms of publicity — with the episode having ended up projecting him as someone who challenged the Leader of the Opposition a year-and-a-half ahead of Assembly elections.

Kataria is often regarded as the face of the RSS-backed,anti-Raje camp in the state unit. Though he is regarded,even by adversaries,for his honesty and plain-spoken manner,he is also known for emotional outbursts.

Kataria was a schoolteacher in the 1970s when he was introduced into politics by former Rajya Sabha member and BJP leader Lalit Kishore Chaturvedi.

A senior BJP leader said,“He was brought in to increase the BJP-RSS presence in the tribal-dominated south Rajasthan. For the decade between 1980 and 1990,he did that.”

Since entering politics,Kataria has won six Assembly elections and one to Parliament,losing none. He reached his pinnacle in the government as home minister in Raje’s government between 2003 and 2008.

Before that,he held the education portfolio under Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and was Leader of the Opposition after the latter became vice-president and was also elevated to the position of state party president in 1999.

Senior BJP leaders in both camps agree that Kataria,working with RSS-aided organisations like the Vanvasi Kalyan Parishan,can be credited with promoting the party’s influence in the districts of Udaipur,Banswara and Dungarpur,which have remained the strongest Congress bastions in Rajasthan. A BJP office-bearer said Kataria had toured all 30 constituencies in south Rajasthan on a motorcycle late in the 1980s to promote the party.

Today,senior BJP leaders continue to express their surprise over Raje’s reaction to a relatively low-key yatra that would have been limited only to south Rajasthan. A former BJP minister said,“Kataria’s campaign was only in 26 constituencies to highlight the ruling Congress government’s failure. It did not seem at any level a challenge to her. Undoubtedly,Vasundhara Raje is the face of the BJP in Rajasthan and the only recognisable candidate across the state.”

The Raje camp wants this assertion from the BJP leadership in Delhi. “We want the BJP to acknowledge Raje as the only leader in the state as it will help take on the Congress,” said BJP leader Shubhash Meheria.

Political observers see this as a sign of the Raje camp attempting to consolidate support within the party.