The Rajasthan connection

Last night I had dinner with the Sharmas.

Mr Mahesh Chandra Sharma Ex-Rajya Sabha MP and his better half Sumita Sharma is an exponent of Kathak. Besides being a Rajya Sabha MP many times, he has held key positions in top institutions of the country. He was also the state BJP president of Rajasthan during Vasundhara Raje’s government. A senior RSS man, Mr Mahesh Sharma hails from my native district Churu in Rajasthan.

During the dinner we discussed Rajasthan politics and problems that BJP is facing in the state. It seems that at present most of the political parties in the country are busy putting their house in order rather than worry about issues of villages and roads. I am currently serving in many positions in different Rajasthani organisations around the world. One question I often face is - How come you are close to both Vasundhara Raje and Ashok Gehlot? (file pictures)

I say that I am close to neither of them. I just do my work and they both have time for me.

Nobody is convinced by my reply and I leave them to draw their own answers. But they are entitled to their views since it has so happened that many a times I have personally met or talked over phone with both the leaders on the same day or in close succession. This has set many tongues wagging with written and verbal complaints to the leaders that I have pitched my tent in the opponent’s camp.

I was appointed Honorary Secretary of the local chapter of Rajasthan Foundation by the then Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Sri Ashok Gehlot. I remember that I was the youngest invitee of  Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to the Rajasthani Conclave in the year 2000 following which the Rajasthan Foundation was set up with the objective to forge ties between Non-resident Rajasthanis (NRR) and the state of Rajasthan.

Later, my appointment was endorsed and renewed by Smt Vasundhara Raje and she attended programmes organised by me as the secretary of the Foundation. I believe that if you do your work with sincerity and deliver the goods, politics will not come in your way.

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