Ahead of the assembly elections in Rajasthan, the BJP is set to intensify its protest against the Ashok Gehlot-led government. The saffron party is planning a series of protests which will culminate with a statewide gherao in the last week of July.
The gherao would witness participation of over five lakh people across the state. The event is being organised as a big impact political statement as the spectacle will be visible across the state. To coincide with the mega event, a rally is also being planned for July 31 or August 1, party sources said. Another feature of this maha gherao would be that the party would set up counters across the states to register symbolic FIRs against the Gehlot government for alleged wrongdoings particularly corruption.
The BJP has already held Jan Aakrosh rallies across the assembly segments, districts and even conducted Jan Sampark (community outreach) programme in the villages.
Rajasthan is an important state for the BJP where elections are due in November-December this year. The state has been electing alternate government every five years. The BJP is hopeful that this tradition will be maintained in the state as infighting in the Congress and corruption charges against the Gehlot government would be determining factors. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had picked up Ajmer to hold a rally to mark the ninth anniversary of his government on May 31.
The BJP is yet to decide on its CM face, for which the call will be taken by the party’s parliamentary board. The party may also go to election with a collective leadership.
“Our party is attracting talent. Already eight IAS and IPS officers have joined BJP as has the son of former state CM Pahadia. Even nephew of former President Pratibha Patil has joined the BJP,” Arun Singh, BJP general secretary and party in-charge of Rajasthan, said.
Addressing a press conference, Singh said corruption has broken all records in Rajasthan under Gehlot government. “Our cadres are protesting against it, as we did in Jaipur on Tuesday. The police let lose terror on our cadre. Illegal mining, cash for transfers, paper leaks, farmer suicides are now associated with the state,” he said.