Former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje will embark on a day-long temple visit across the state on Friday, September 1, 2022. This religious tour by She comes a day before the BJP kicks off its ambitious ‘Parivartan Yatra’ in Rajasthan starting September 2.
Vasundhara Raje’s Temple Visits
As per her schedule, Raje will begin her temple visits early Friday morning. She will be traveling via helicopter to cover multiple temples across Rajasthan.
Vasundhara Raje’s first stop will be the Charbhuja Nath temple in Rajsamand district. She will then head to the Nathdwara temple, also located in Rajsamand.
From there, Raje will fly down to the Tripura Sundari temple in Banswara district. Her final stop will be in Kota where she will visit a recently deceased relative of former MLA Prahlad Gunjal.
Frequency of Vasundhara Raje’s Temple Tours
Vasundhara Raje is known to routinely embark on extensive temple visits across Rajasthan. Her supporters see the former CM’s frequent religious tours as an occasion to mobilize crowds in various regions.
Last year between September and October, Raje had gone on a similar ‘Dev Darshan Yatra’ covering various pilgrimage sites in the state. She then visited temples like Arbuda Mata, Tripura Sundari, Amba Mata, and Sunda Mata among others.
When asked about Raje’s temple tours last year, BJP’s Rajasthan in-charge Arun Singh clarified that people naturally gather to see the leader during such visits owing to her popularity.
Vasundhara Raje’s Association with Charbhuja Nath Temple
Interestingly, the Charbhuja Nath temple in Rajsamand holds special significance for Vasundhara Raje.
In the past, She has chosen this particular temple as the starting point for her statewide election campaigns. This includes the 2003, 2013, and 2018 Assembly polls when Raje was BJP’s declared CM candidate.
By beginning her election tours from Charbhuja Nath temple, she has aimed to seek divine blessings and set the momentum for intensive statewide campaigns.
BJP’s Parivartan Yatra Launch on September 2
The timing of Vasundhara Raje’s latest temple visit gains significance as the BJP gears up to launch its high-octane ‘Parivartan Yatra‘ in Rajasthan the very next day on September 2.
The yatra aims to cover all 200 Assembly seats and about 9,000 km across Rajasthan’s length and breadth. It will be kicked off by BJP national president JP Nadda from the Trinetra Ganesh Temple in Sawai Madhopur.
Three other Parivartan Yatra legs will be launched by Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and Nitin Gadkari over the next few days. However, unlike previous elections, the BJP has not named any CM face this time.
Vasundhara Raje’s Show of Strength Before Yatra
Political observers see Vasundhara Raje’s temple visit on September 1 as a show of strength by the former CM ahead of BJP’s high-profile Parivartan Yatra.
With no declared CM candidate, the yatra is significant for Raje to mobilize support and reaffirm her value to the BJP amidst ongoing power tussles.
By touring temples a day prior, she demonstrates her popularity and mastery over grassroots connects even without the official BJP machinery. Her ability to independently draw crowds also strengthens her Chief Ministerial aspirations.
As Rajasthan heads toward crucial Assembly polls, the religious tours, Yatras, and political rallies will only intensify in the coming months. For now, all eyes are on BJP’s Parivartan Yatra launch and whether Vasundhara Raje can reinforce her indispensable presence through temple tours.
Vasundhara Raje Asserts Herself Before 2023 Rajasthan Elections
With the state elections approaching, former CM Vasundhara Raje aims to reassert herself in Rajasthan’s political landscape through her strategic temple visits before the BJP’s Parivartan Yatra.
Though she lacks the official mantle of BJP’s CM candidate this time, Raje seeks to showcase her independent popularity and stature. Her ability to garner mass support remains crucial to furthering her ambitions to regain power in 2023.
In an era of personality-driven politics, Vasundhara Raje’s constant public outreach through religious tours allows her to stay relevant amidst tussles within the state BJP unit. As the election spotlight intensifies on Rajasthan, Raje will undoubtedly continue devising opportunities to reinforce her enduring appeal among key voter groups.