Rajasthan Assembly polls: In a balancing act, BJP includes Vasundhara Raje in 2nd candidate list

Raje will be contesting from her traditional Jhalrapatan seat.

Raje has had differences with Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and has not been prominently featured in the BJP's election campaigns so far, reported NDTV.

The party's relationship soured when Raje opposed Shekhawat's appointment as BJP chief in Rajasthan in 2018, fearing it would alienate the jaat community from the party in the 2018 elections.

Raje's initial exclusion from BJP's candidate list had sparked criticism from the Opposition, the report said.

However, in an effort to maintain political equilibrium, several of Raje's supporters have also been included in the new list announced by the BJP.

Following the Central Election Committee meeting attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president JP Nadda, the BJP has chosen to leverage the popularity of Vasundhara Raje, who holds acceptance across various voter bases in the state.

Vasundhara Raje hails from the Scindia royal family, the erstwhile rulers of Gwalior, now located in Madhya Pradesh. Her mother, Vijayaraje Scindia, was a prominent figure in the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) and later in the BJP. Her brother, Madhavrao Scindia, was a notable Congress leader.

In its second list, the BJP has nominated Narpat Singh Rajvi from Chittorgarh's Vidhyadhar Nagar seat.

This decision comes after an earlier choice to deny the five-term MLA, the report said.

Rajvi, who is the son-in-law of the stalwart leader Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, was conspicuous with his absence from the first list, which prompted a backlash from a section of party workers, it added.

The BJP's sudden reversal of his candidacy is being viewed as a move to contain potential damage, especially after Rajvi responded vehemently, invoking his family's political legacy to express his displeasure with the party's decision, the NDTV report said.

Elections are slated to take place in the pivotal states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram between November 7 and 30, with results set to be announced on December 3, according to the Election Commission. In Rajasthan, all 200 seats will go to vote on November 25.

In the 2018 assembly elections, the Congress secured 100 seats, while the BJP held 73.

Ultimately, the Congress formed the government, and Ashok Gehlot was sworn in as Chief Minister with the support of the Bahujan Samaj Party, which had secured six seats.