Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2018: Diya Kumari joins BJP poll campaign

Putting the speculation of differences with the state BJP leadership to rest, the erstwhile Jaipur royal Diya Kumari on Wednesday did an extensive roadshow in favour party’s candidate Asha Meena in Sawai Madhopur assembly constituency. Diya Kumari, who was MLA from Sawai Madhopur, was denied ticket by the BJP.

A sitting MLA denied ticket sparked of speculation that the party bowed to the wishes of Rajya Sabha member Kirori Lal Meena who wanted to field a candidate from his choice. Diya Kumari defeated Kirori with huge margin in Sawai Madhipur when he contested election on his won party’s ticket after quitting the BJP.

There was speculation that her face-off with the Raje government on Rajmahal Palace dispute led to her losing the candidature.

It is being said that Diya Kumari clearly told the BJP leadership that she would not contest elections from any other seat other than Sawai Madhopur. Her name was discussed for Hawa Mahal, Vidyadhar Nagar and Jhotwara seats of Jaipur, but she refused to relent.

However, Diya Kumari rejected these theories saying that she did not contest the elections due to personal reasons. Even Union Human Resource Development (HRD) minister Prakash Javadekar, who is BJP’s state in-charge, had refuted to such speculations, saying that Diya Kumari refused to contest election on personal grounds and candidature of Asha Meena was finalised with her consent.  

These issues raised serious questions regarding her campaigning for the party

On Wednesday, when she did extensive tour of Sawai Madhopur in support of Asha, all speculations were put to rest. She did campaigning for Mansingh Gurjar in the neighbouring constituency of Gangapur city.

BJP candidate Asha is wife of RAS officer Hari Singh Meena, who is close to Kirori Meena. Asha was the Sawai Madhopur Pradhan on the Congress ticket from 2010 to 2015. In the assembly elections 2013, Asha joined the BJP in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje during the campaign of Diya Kumari. Asha contested the election of the District Council member on BJP ticket but lost.