‘Mukhyamantri Wahi Banengi’: BJP’s Dilemma Cuts No Ice in Jhalrapatan as Locals Back ‘Madam’ Vasundhara Raje

Near the enduring Surya Temple in Jhalrapatan, Tahil Ali runs his store. In truth, many retailers across the temple are run by Muslims. “We will always back Vasundhara Raje. She has been our representative for 34 years now,” Ali tells News18. Speak to many different Muslims in the seat and all are rooting for Raje.

At the far finish of Eastern Rajasthan, bordering Madhya Pradesh, lies Jhalrapatan at a seven-hour drive from Jaipur. It is from right here that Raje has been an MLA since 2004. Before that, she had represented the bigger Jhalawar seat as an MP since 1989, earlier than her son Dushyant Singh took over as the MP from 2004. This is a bastion for the Raje household, or as locals name it ‘Madam Ka Gadh’, with folks throughout communities, just like the Muslims, backing her.

However, there may be some uneasiness amongst locals over Raje not being projected as the chief ministerial face of the BJP. Suleman Pata, who fought as an Independent in the previous in opposition to each Raje and Dushyant Singh, says the BJP dangers not coming to energy if it doesn’t venture Raje. “She is the tallest leader BJP has, who is known across the state. Other BJP leaders like Rajendra Shekhawat or Diya Kumari have minimal appeal,” Pata says.

Near Khandiya Ka Talab, the place locals come to take selfies at sundown, shop-owner Mehboob Khan says for him, Raje is the unquestioned chief.

“I am a Muslim and don’t approve of the BJP’s ways of communal politics in Rajasthan this time but I will always vote for Raje. She has developed Jhalawar with hospitals and educational institutions. I was surprised to see her name missing from the first list but it finally came now,” he says.

Tahir Ali factors out how all 4 seats of Jhalawar had been received by the BJP the final time too although the get together misplaced in the state. In truth, Jhalawar was the one district in Eastern Rajasthan the place BJP did a clear sweep with the remainder of the area going principally the Congress manner. “BJP may not project her as the chief minister, but mukhyamantri wohi banengi,” Ali says confidently.

But some kids in the realm say they need a change as, since their beginning, they’ve solely seen Raje as their consultant.

“Go to the villages in Jhalawar and you will see that no development has taken place. A new leader as MLA and a new chief minister is needed in Rajasthan,” Kuldeep Singh, a younger scholar, says.

Such opinions, nonetheless, are few and much between. Jhalrapatan remains to be rooting for its madam to turn into the chief minister once more.