Bhajan Lal Sharma, the newly-elected Chief Minister of Rajasthan, has a storied political journey. Despite a setback in the 2003 Assembly elections, contesting as a rebel BJP candidate, he faced defeat in Nadbai, Bharatpur, finishing fifth and losing his deposit. Independent candidate Krishnendra Kaur emerged victorious.
However, in a surprising move, the BJP appointed Sharma, a first-time MLA from Sanganer, Jaipur, as the Chief Minister. Sharma, initially labeled an 'outsider' due to his Bharatpur residency, won the recent elections by a significant margin over the Congress candidate.
With a solid foothold in the BJP's state unit and close ties to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Sharma held crucial positions, serving as the state general secretary under four BJP Presidents in Rajasthan—Ashok Parnami, Madan Lal Saini, Satish Poonia, and C.P. Joshi.
Key Points:
1. Bhajan Lal Sharma, Rajasthan's newly elected Chief Minister, has a long-standing political career spanning 34 years, having recently secured the position despite a prior unsuccessful bid.
2. In the 2003 Assembly elections, Sharma contested as a rebel BJP candidate representing the Rajasthan Samajik Nyaya Manch in Nadbai, Bharatpur, resulting in a fifth-place finish with 5,969 votes, leading to the loss of his deposit.
3. Independent candidate Krishnendra Kaur emerged victorious in the 2003 elections with 27,299 votes, surpassing BSP's Sanjay Singh, Congress' Yashwant Singh Ramu, and BJP's Jitendra Singh.
4. Despite Sharma's earlier setback, the BJP announced him as the surprise choice for the Rajasthan Chief Minister post, marking his first term as an MLA.
5. Sharma's victory in Sanganer during the November 25 Assembly elections, despite initial outsider labeling due to his Bharatpur residency, saw him triumph with a significant lead of 48,081 votes over Congress' Pushpendra Bhardwaj.
6. His close affiliations with both the BJP's state unit and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have been evident throughout his tenure, having served as the state general secretary under multiple state BJP Presidents: Ashok Parnami, Madan Lal Saini, Satish Poonia, and C.P. Joshi.
7. Despite his past electoral loss, Sharma's recent political trajectory showcases resilience and eventual success, culminating in his unexpected appointment as the Chief Minister.
8. The BJP's decision to elevate Sharma to the Chief Minister's role highlights his evolution from an earlier electoral setback to becoming a prominent figure within the party's state leadership.
9. Sharma's triumph in Sanganer underscored his ability to overcome initial skepticism regarding his local ties, securing a decisive victory in the November Assembly elections.
10. With a background deeply rooted in both the party's structure and ideological foundations, Sharma's ascent to the Chief Ministerial position represents a significant development in Rajasthan's political landscape.
(With Agency Inputs)
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