Overview
- Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje drew fresh attention after telling supporters at her son Dushyant Singh’s outreach event that she could not even save what was hers, a line many read as frustration over being passed up for the top job in 2023.
- Raje later told reporters her words referred to local complaints about highway land acquisition and she cited her Dholpur palace to argue such takings cannot be blocked, accusing political actors of twisting her remarks.
- State BJP president Madan Rathore answered with a proverb that suggested a leader should be content and cannot expect the chief ministership every time, which party figures and rivals cast as a swipe at Raje.
- Rathore then said his comment was misconstrued, his planned press meet was canceled, and party sources reported a reprimand from the high command, while he also issued a statement attacking Ashok Gehlot’s criticism and asserting BJP unity.
- Congress veteran Gehlot said Raje did not need to explain herself and faulted Rathore’s tone, as observers noted the BJP’s push to play down the dust-up before Narendra Modi’s refinery inauguration and recalled Raje’s sidelining when first-time MLA Bhajanlal Sharma became chief minister in December 2023.