n a surprising turn of events for the chief ministerial position in the Hindi heartland states, the BJP has unveiled its third unexpected choice for the top role in Rajasthan, where it emerged victorious in the recent elections. The party has nominated Bhajanlal Sharma, a first-time MLA, for the coveted position. Additionally, Diya Kumari, a prominent contender for the chief minister’s role, and Prem Chand Bairwa, a leader from the scheduled caste community, have been designated as the deputy chief ministers of the state.
Diya Kumari, belonging to the erstwhile Jaipur royal family, serves as an MP from Rajsamand and was strategically fielded as a candidate for the Vidhyadhar Nagar constituency in the Assembly polls. Her victory over Sitaram Agarwal of the Congress by a substantial margin of over 71,000 votes underscores her political prowess.
As the granddaughter of Man Singh II, the final ruling maharaja of the erstwhile princely state of Jaipur, Diya Kumari strategically framed her appeal to voters as a “daughter of Jaipur” and the “princess who walks on the streets.” Her ability to seamlessly blend regal heritage with a ‘down-to-earth’ persona has undoubtedly contributed to her widespread popularity among the people of Rajasthan.
