Governments & Politics of Rajasthan

Rajasthan's Governments & Politics

                 Rajasthan's politics has mainly been dominated by the two state stalwarts, namely, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Mohan Lal Sukhadia of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Indian National Congress respectively. Shri Sukhadia ruled Rajasthan for 17 years and died in February 1982 while Shri Shekhawat is now in the national political horizon. The earlier politics were dominated by the Congress party. The main opposition party was the Bharatiya Jansangh, headed by Rajasthan's most popular leader Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and the Swatantra party headed by former rulers of Rajasthan. The Congress rule was untouched till the year 1962. But in the year 1967, Jansangh headed by Shekhawat and Swatantra party headed by Rajmata Gayatri Devi of Jaipur reached the majority point, but couldn't form a government. In 1972, the Congress won a landslide victory. But after the declaration of emergency, Shekhawat became immensely popular, especially after a forced arrest. As soon as the emergency was lifted, a joint opposition Janta Party won a thundering landslide victory winning 151 of the 200 seats. Shekhawat became the Chief Minister. The government was dismissed by Indira Gandhi in 1980 after she restored power in Delhi. In the 1980 elections, the Janta Party split at the centre giving Congress a victory in Rajasthan.

Indira Gandhi was murdered in the year 1984, and in the year 1985, a sympathy wave let the Congress sail through in the elections. But in 1989, which could be called a Shekhawat wave, the BJP-JD alliance won all 25 Lok Sabha seats and 140 of 200 seats in the assembly. Shekhawat became the Chief Minister for the second term. After the Babri Mosque demolition in Ayodhya, Shekhawat government was suspended by the P.M., Narsimha Rao and President's rule was introduced in Rajasthan. Election took place in the year 1993 in which his party won even after the breaking of its alliance with the Janta Dal. Shekhawat became the Chief Minister for the third term. This time he ran a successful third term. In 1998 elections, the BJP lost heavily due to the onion price rise issue. Ashok Gehlot ran a 5 year government. Shekhawat became the Vice-President of India in the year 2002 so he had to leave Rajasthan politics and the BJP. Vasundhara raje was appointed his succesor. She led the BJP in 2003 elections and led it to a victory. She is the Chief Minister of Rajasthan since then. Narpat Singh Rajvi is the Industry Minister, Ghanshyam Tiwari is the Education Minister, and Gulab Chand Kataria is the Home Minister. Next state elections are due in 2008.