A Brahmin In Rajput Forte? Why BJP Chose First-Time MLA Bhajan Lal Sharma As Rajasthan CM

The new chief minister of Rajasthan Bhajan Lal Sharma, a first-time MLA from the Sanganer constituency in Jaipur district has been the biggest surprise move by the BJP that swept the state with 115 seats. While speculations remained rife over who would be the next CM with several conversations made around Vasundhara Raje and Princess Diya Kumari, Sharma’s elevation has put many questions on front.

With little experience holding a post for administrative work, Sharma has a long stint with the ‘Mahamantri’ of RSS. He is also known as a ‘sangathan man’, another term used closely with the right-wing organisation. “When it comes to BJP leadership, this association with RSS matters a lot,” says Vaibhav Khodke, a political analyst from Rajasthan. According to him, Sharma’s disassociation with any “state-level campaign” of any big leaders also puts him over the edge. "That makes him a safe option for BJP to avoid any type of factionalism and clan politics within the Rajasthan leadership,” he analyses.

The move can also be seen as a way to counter Congress’s narrative of limiting power to a few individuals only. Whereas Gehlot has held power for three terms, the BJP wants to break the pattern and create an imagery of equality in the cadre-based party.

Going by public popularity, backed by poll analysis, Raje Scindia was being put as the logical choice for chief minister. But going by what was happening within the party, she was always unlikely to be made chief minister. “Raje’s inactivity post-2018 and clashes with the central leadership did not quite make her the priority for the central leadership. Her power and dominance could have posed threats to those higher in power,” says Vaibhav.

Perhaps, Sharma’s appointment also brings attention to the choice of CMs in other states. In Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh too, the BJP has also appointed fresh CM faces. Analysing the situation, one can see how the saffron party never preferred empowering any leader for too long as they may develop the capability to interfere with the decisions of the Centre.

Besides Sharma, Diya Kumari, a Rajput and Prem Chand Bairwa, from the Scheduled Community (SC) have been made the deputy chief ministers. The move could be seen as unifying different castes under the Hindutva umbrella. While Brahmins and Rajputs have been traditional vote banks of the BJP, the SC community has been that of the Congress. Hence, placing Bairwa as the deputy CM is a way to unify the SC vote bank.

In Rajasthan, the SC community majorly constitutes Meghwal, Regar, and Bairwa. The Bairwa community has traditionally voted for the Congress and the naming of Prem Chand Bairwa is been seen as a strategic move by the party ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Whereas Arjun Ram Meghwal has been given the portfolio of the Ministry of Law, the representation of Bairwa, an MLA from Dudu constituency has given BJP the space to portray representation of two major SC communities and break the Congress vote.

Against the large picture, where Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav is from the OBC community and Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai is from the tribal community, the demand of one leader from the general community had to be met. “The BJP strategically chose that from Rajasthan, giving out a clear message to its old, core vote bank,” says Vaibhav, who also feels that amid this, the lack of representation of the Jatt community may interfere with BJP’s vote bank ahead of the  2024 Lok Sabha elections.