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BJP chief on his way out?

Mahesh Sharma

JAIPUR: A change of leadership is expected in the Rajasthan BJP soon with the party high-ups in Delhi reportedly conceding the demand of the faction opposed to Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for removal of Mahesh Sharma as the State unit president. An announcement is expected any time after the scheduled meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Board in Delhi.

The party rebels have been hankering for a replacement of the soft-spoken Dr. Sharma, whose perceived proximity to Ms. Raje has seemingly been his undoing. Though there is no official word yet from the party about the change, his opponents -- despite the minor setback they received after opium was reportedly served to guests at a get-together they attended in the ancestral village of senior leader Jaswant Singh a fortnight back—are already speculating over the successor to Dr. Sharma.

While party sources here maintain that the Parliamentary Board might not have anything to do with the removal of a State unit president—for which the BJP president is competent enough—they do not rule out a final decision on the fate of Dr. Sharma on the occasion. As such the Parliamentary Board has the elections to Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assemblies on its agenda. The issue of serving opium might also come up before the Board considering the chances of its figuring in the coming session of Parliament.

The names in circulation in connection with the successor to Dr. Sharma include Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria, BJP national treasurer Ramdas Agarwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Harishankar Bhabra. Interestingly, all three of them when contacted denied any interest in the post. All three have held the post in the past and they have been all strong Raje critics some time or the other.

Mr. Bhabra has refused to take up the job pointing out that he is too old while in the case of Mr. Kataria it is being said that Ms. Raje would like him to continue as Home Minister. Mr. Agarwal, who left the ranks of Raje critics some time back, may be acceptable to her camp as well. Of late Mr. Agarwal has been helping her out in the negotiations with the Gujjar community over their demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

However, one dilemma for the party leadership would be the caste factor. At least some in the State BJP are apprehensive of the consequences of replacing a Brahmin leader with one form any other caste—especially when the Congress has a Brahmin as State unit chief!

The Chief Minister is immobile at present with a viral infection which had made her cancel her trip to Bangalore to attend the swearing-in of B. S. Yeddyurappa as Chief Minister of Karnataka. Ms. Raje also cancelled all her appointments for Tuesday as well.

The change of party leadership—as and when it comes—is going to be a short-lived jubilation for the party rebels, including the Ministers, as the axe would fall on at least some of them.

The changes will have to come as a package with both the sides giving in on certain aspects and gaining in some other.

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