The political corridors of Rajasthan are abuzz with the happenings in the state BJP. After the resignation of Cabinet Minister Kirodi Lal Meena, there has been a stir in the party. Now the discussion of organisational change has also intensified in the BJP. A major decision in this regard is expected after the budget on July 10 and the state working committee meeting on July 13.

For this state BJP working committee meeting to be held on July 13, State General Secretary Jitendra Gothwal has already assigned responsibility to the workers up to the booth level regarding the preparations for it. Meanwhile, after Meena’s resignation, CM Bhajan Lal Sharma met former CM Vasundhara Raje on Sunday. Meena’s resignation is also linked to Raje because on July 4, when the news of his resignation came to light, on that day Meena and Raje took blessings from Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati. When pictures of both leaders seeking blessings from Shankaracharya on the same day came out, fresh speculations started about what was cooking between the two veteran BJP leaders.

It may be noted that by-elections are going to be held on five assembly seats in the coming days in the state, and therefore Raje’s sudden activeness is being viewed with great interest. On Sunday, CM Bhajan Lal Sharma reached Raje’s bungalow to meet her, and this was CM Sharma’s second meeting with Raje after becoming the Chief Minister. Earlier, before the Lok Sabha elections, in January, CM Sharma had reached Raje’s bungalow to meet her. On Sunday, Bhajanlal Sharma and Vasundhara Raje talked for about an hour. According to sources, the reason for this meeting was to discuss the strategy for the budget and also for the by-elections to be held in the coming days. Party insiders say that the leadership is trying to take advantage by activating her in the by-elections.

It may be noted that Raje was not seen as active in both the Rajasthan Assembly elections held in November 2023 and the Lok Sabha elections held in April 2024. Moreover, she was not given any major responsibility by the national leadership of the party during these polls, much to Raje’s discomfort. The BJP suffered losses due to her inactivity in the Lok Sabha elections, and many party insiders say that had she been active, the party would have benefited a lot, but this could not happen. The BJP, which was eyeing a hat-trick, of 25 seats, lost 11 seats. Now that the Assembly by-elections on five seats are to be held soon, the party seems to be trying to involve Raje once again.

It may be noted that by-elections are to be held soon in the state on Jhunjhunu, Dausa, Deoli-Uniyara, Khinvsar, and Chaurasi Assembly seats that fell vacant after the sitting MLAs were elected to the Lok Sabha. Of these three seats, Dausa, Jhunjhunu and Deoli Uniara were with Congress while Khinvsar was with RLP and Chaurasi was with BAP. Since the BJP did not have any of the five seats, BJP is afraid of losing the by-elections as well. In such a situation, the party is once again trying to convince Raje for electoral gains. If Raje becomes active, the party will definitely benefit, but how active she is and what responsibility the party gives her is to be seen.