Jaipur: Making her debut in national politics, a member of the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur, Diya Kumari, sources say is looking at a ‘bigger’ role in the Bharatiya Janata Party post the Lok Sabha polls. A former MLA from Sawai Madhopur Assembly constituency, she seemingly has the backing of the central BJP leadership.
This, many in the party believe, is the beginning of grooming of a younger generation to take over the state politics at the behest of the central leadership.
Marred by the struggle the state had witnessed, as former CM Vasundhara Raje and party chief Amit Shah tried to prevail upon each other to place their candidate for the post of state president. Kumari’s candidature from Rajsamand is being seen as a move in Rajasthan as well as national politics.
Talking to this newspaper, Kumari said that she would fulfil all responsibilities given to her by the party. “I have no idea at all. All I am doing right now is try to focus on my elections. As to whether I should be given ministry or not, is party’s decision. I have been given opportunity by the party for which I am grateful,” added Kumari. Attacked by opposition for being an ‘outsider’, Kumari pointed out that Congress president Rahul Gandhi too is contesting from a seat where he is being tagged as an ‘outsider’.
“I don’t think there is anyone outsider in any election. I would tell the opposition that even your party president is fighting from Kerala and they also consider him as an outsider there. I am daughter of Rajasthan. And more than me it is an election about Prime Minister Narendra Modi who people are looking up to,” stated the Jaipur royal family member.
Talking about her relations with Raje, Kumari rubbished all reports of both sharing a tense relation. Raje had campaigned for Kumari in the last leg of her election.
“That is all people like to gossip and make up stories and rumours. She is an amazing leader. And she is face of BJP in Rajasthan and will remain so. She has experience and a lot of young people have come in to politics recently. Though, we need young blood, we equally need experienced people to guide us. No one should forget that she is the one who brought me in to politics. We have a wonderful relation,” added the BJP leader.
Till the Assembly polls Rajasthan's Rajputswere reportedly miffed with former chief minister Vasundhara Raje over a host of issues, beginning with the denial of candidature to former union minister Jaswant Singh in 2014.
