The ruling BJP in Rajasthan is likely to face trouble over the quitting trend of senior BJP leaders from the party. The leaders who have quit decided to contest the election against the BJP. The main reason of discontentment against the current government might be the CM’s working style. They have also maintained that their aim is to uproot the Raje government.
Senior leaders like Ghanshyam Tiwari, Hanuman Beniwal, and Kirori Singh Bainsla had already resigned from their posts in 2010. Belonging to different communities, these leaders have quite an influence on their respective communities. While Kirori Singh has not made any announcement on contesting assembly polls, reports are rife that Chitra Singh, wife of Ex-BJP MLA Manvendra Singh might contest the election from his seat.
Manvendra Singh, who is fresh on the list of BJP leaders who have quit the party said he felt humiliated after his father Jaswant Singh was denied party ticket to contest Lok Sabha Elections in 2014. He had announced his exit on Saturday in a rally named ‘Swabhimaan’ which was meant for the self-respect. He will be contesting Lok Sabha Elections against BJP from Barmer, from where his father was denied a ticket.
Manvendra Singh belongs to the old Royal Jasol Family and has a rich Rajput legacy. He has substantial influence over the Rajput community spread across Jaisalmer and Barmer. The supposed ill-treatment of BJP towards the father-son duo has also garnered sympathy from other communities, as Brahmins and Muslims. He said he will be fighting for his self-respect.
While Ghanshyam Tiwari is a strong face of Brahmins, Beniwal and Bainsla represent Jat and Gujjar communities respectively. Tiwari has a strong hold on the regions of Sikar and Jaipur. He left BJP in June this year and went onto form his own party, Bharat Vahini Sena. Despite having a good political career and being a six-time MLA and two-time minister in the BJP government he left BJP because of Raje’s poor governance. As Brahmins dominate around 15 constituencies, Ghanshyam Tiwari might put a tough fight against BJP.
Hanuman Beniwal, a Jat leader from Nagaur, who first became an MLA from Khinsvar in 2008, left BJP owing to a disagreement with Raje. He holds a tight grip over the youth and claimed that he won’t let BJP win a single seat from Nagaur. Bainsla, the face of Gujjar agitation in 2008 fought the Lok Sabha election in 2009 from Tonk Sawai Madhopur but lost to the Congress candidate. He may influence 35 seats in the Gujjar dominated area of eastern Rajasthan. He said he will support the party who promises 5% quota to Gujjar Community.
Meanwhile, Congress has asked Vasundhara Raje to ‘introspect’ as to why her MLAs quitting the party are increasing. Rajasthan Congress Chief, Sachin Pilot said, “The list of BJP leaders leaving the party is getting longer and longer. The chief minister should introspect why this is happening. Though this is the BJP’s internal matter, their leaders are disgruntled”, reported PTI.
On Monday, Padma Shukla, a senior BJP leader left the party and joined Congress in the poll-bound state of Madhya Pradesh.