NEW DELHI : With the clock ticking for the beleaguered Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje, a face to face meeting with Amit Shah at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab on Friday could prove to be the proverbial ice-breaker.
Apart from Raje and Amit Shah, former BJP president Rajnath Singh would be present at Anandpur Sahib for the Sikh holy town’s 350th anniversary celebrations.
It is understood that Rajnath Singh has stepped in to help resolve the simmering row by facilitating the meeting between Raje and Shah. Singh is taking the initiative at the behest of the RSS leadership, said BJP sources.
Originally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to participate in the celebrations at Anandpur Sahib but he opted out and asked Rajnath Singh to attend the event instead. Shah had scheduled programmes in Bihar but decided to travel with Rajnath, lest the Akali Dal takes offence.
Raje is playing her cards carefully as the central leadership has been muted in its support. Lest the dissidents in the Rajasthan BJP seize the opportunity to start a campaign for her removal, in chorus with the Congress, she warned her supporters not to rush to Delhi, as the move may be misconstrued. Incidentally, former Rajasthan BJP leader Om Mathur has become the party’s national vice-president. Mathur, in turn, may not be well disposed towards her and hence Raje preferred to plead her case at Anandpur Sahib before Amit Shah.
Sources said Dushyant Raje is currently abroad and hence the party would like him to clarify his position on return.
