###Madan Rathore Appointed as Rajasthan BJP State President

Rajya Sabha MP Madan Rathore's appointment as Rajasthan BJP State President has drawn a stream of well-wishers to his temporary residence at Western Court in New Delhi. Previously, Rathore received a warm welcome from central ministers and MPs upon his arrival at the Parliament building on Friday. He will assume his new role shortly.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal congratulated Madan Rathore, the newly appointed Rajasthan BJP State President and Rajya Sabha MP, expressing confidence that his organizational experience and guidance would infuse new energy into the party workers and strengthen the organization. Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also extended heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the senior leader and skilled organizer, Madan Rathore, on his appointment as BJP Rajasthan President, stating that new standards of success would be established under his leadership. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma also conveyed his congratulations and best wishes on social media, emphasizing that under Rathore's energetic leadership and guidance, BJP would establish new milestones of success in the state with the mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas.' He also wished Rathore a successful tenure.

Chief Minister Sharma expressed happiness over the appointment of National General Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Radha Mohan Das Agrawal as Rajasthan State In-Charge and National Secretary Vijaya Rahatkar as Co-In-Charge. He conveyed his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes, expressing confidence that their organizational skills and experience would benefit the Rajasthan state organization significantly.

Madan Rathore, the newly appointed Rajasthan BJP State President and Rajya Sabha MP, expressed his gratitude to the party's top leadership, stating that he was deeply grateful and lacked words to express his thanks. He assured that he would strive to meet the expectations of the party leadership.

Outgoing State BJP President MP CP Joshi had offered to resign after the Assembly elections and just before the Lok Sabha elections. Discussions had been ongoing for a long time on who should be appointed as the President since both Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and State President CP Joshi belong to the Brahmin caste.

Madan Rathore's appointment comes at a time when by-elections are to be held on five assembly seats in Rajasthan. The BJP, aiming to secure victories in these by-elections after the loss in the Lok Sabha elections, has replaced CP Joshi with Madan Rathore as the State President. Rathore, considering himself a true soldier of the party, has also expressed his determination to win the by-elections. He has clearly stated that he will make every effort to win the by-elections by maintaining better coordination between the government and the organization. These by-elections will be a litmus test for him in the near future.

Political analysts believe that Madan Rathore's appointment is an attempt to appeal to the core OBC vote base. Rathore, who was elected as a Rajya Sabha MP only five months ago, has previously served as an MLA from the Sumerpur Assembly seat in Pali district and as the Deputy Chief Whip in the previous BJP government under Vasundhara Raje. Rathore belongs to the Ghanchi caste within the core OBC category, which is considered a traditional BJP vote base. Before CP Joshi, the BJP had also appointed Presidents from the core OBC category.

In the 2023 Assembly elections, Rathore was not given a ticket by the BJP, prompting him to contest as an independent candidate. However, he withdrew his candidacy following persuasion from the party leadership, reportedly even receiving a call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Two and a half months after the Assembly elections, the party honored him by nominating him for the Rajya Sabha, and he was elected as a Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan. Rathore has an RSS background and has been quite active in the organization.

It remains to be seen how Rathore will maintain political balance in Rajasthan and lead the BJP to victory in the by-elections.