The Hindu : National : It’s Raje all the way in Jaipur

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Sunday, Dec 09, 2007
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It’s Raje all the way in Jaipur

Special Correspondent

JAIPUR: It was Vasundhara Raje all the way at the mega rally organised here on Saturday by the Rajasthan Government to mark the completion of its four years in power.

The speakers, who included senior BJP leader L. K. Advani, party president Rajnath Singh and MP Najma Heptullah, variously referred to the rally as “raila” (massive rally), and “Vasundhara Raje ka mela” (festival of Vasundhara Raje).

The presence of Mr. Advani and Mr. Rajnath Singh at a time when election campaigns are on in two States was enough indication of the clout the Rajasthan Chief Minister wields with the central leadership.

In fact, Mr. Advani reveled that he was scheduled to attend an Akali Dal programme in Bathinda during the day to mark the birthday of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

He termed Ms. Raje as the “focal point” of the day’s programme and said it was on her insistence that he was here.

Mr. Advani said he was proud to be associated with both Gujarat and Rajasthan. He is representing Gujarat as a Member of Parliament while he started his political career in Rajasthan. “Now both the States are hailed by none other than the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation as the best models of development,” he pointed out.

The massive turnout was perhaps a joint effort as all the senior party leaders, MPs from Rajasthan and MLAs, including known Raje detractors, were present. However the event re-established Ms. Raje’s leadership and gave out the message what the central leadership thought about who would lead the party in Rajasthan in the next elections.

“The BJP would come back to power in Rajasthan under the leadership of Vasundhara Raje,” said Gopinath Munde, BJP general secretary, who is in charge of the State. Mr. Rajnath Singh expressed his confidence in Ms. Raje for taking all party men with her. He appreciated the progress the State could make under her leadership.

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