New Delhi, August 15
A defiant Vasundhra Raje cocked a snook at the BJP high command, defying the party summons and staying put in Jaipur, when BJP President Rajnath Singh wanted her to come immediately and report to him today in Delhi.

Raje’s defiance has a larger implication for the BJP and Leader of Opposition LK Advani in particular since the RSS has been seeking removal of both from their respective Leader of Opposition posts. While Raje has dug in her heels openly, Advani has denied being told by the Sangh chief Mohanrao Bhagwat to look for a replacement. Advani, too, is keen on completing his full five-year term.

Instead of rushing to Delhi, the Rajasthan BJP legislative party leader joined an Independence Day celebration in old Jaipur, raising the national Tricolour. She also stayed away from the official function at the BJP state headquarters amidst claims by her supporters that if pushed further, she could float an indpendent political outfit.

The reference was to Uma Bharti, who floated her political party in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh. But the party high command here appeared firm on its decision and a party leader was confident that eventually she may come round.

He said, “She may not have come today but she is mature enough to understand that without a structured body, she will be a big zero. We are conifdent she will not go the Uma way,” the BJP leader said, adding “she has realised the party is firm about her removal.”

Dismissing the spectacle of her group of MLAs squatting outside Advani’s house and gheraoing Rajnath Singh yesterday seeking her continuation, the BJP leader claimed that most of the MLAs have now understood. “They have been asked to elect a new leader immediately and they have understood the party message,” he said.

Sources also said her conduct was discussed by the top party leaders. Though no names were mentioned by BJP leaders it was evident that Rajnath Singh held a long discussion with LK Advani yesterday and the two were most upset with the manner in which she sent off MLAs to lobby for her and hold a public demonstration outside Advani’s house.

It embarrassed Advani even more because since the defeat in the Assembly elections, Advani had been resisting pressure from the RSS, Rajasthan BJP and Rajnath to replace her.

During this discussion, they mentioned how former Uttarakhand chief minister BC Khanduri stepped down without much fuss. A BJP leader said, “Khanduri was remembered fondly as to how gracefully he quit. He was a clean person. There were no allegations about his personal integrity, yet he did not hesitate in obeying the diktat of the party high command.

“There are all kinds of charges against her. She has even embarrassed those who stood by her. Holding the kind of demonstration outside leaders’ houses (read Advani’s) is really unfair to those who stood by her,” said a party leader without naming Advani.