Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat's comment on the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) that he will implement it and also pay Rs 46,000 crore if Rajendra Rathore's rule comes has attracted heavy criticism and has also exposed the fault lines within the BJP.
If sources in the party are to be believed, the video is from Sawai Madhopur where Shekhawat says, "I will implement ERCP, will also pay Rs 46,000 crore, but you should bring Rajendra Rathore's rule. (Aap Rajendra Rathore ka raaj bana do, turant lag jayega).
Leader of opposition in Rajasthan Assembly Rajendra Rathore, Sawai Madhopur MP Sukhbeer Singh Jaunpuriya and many other BJP leaders can be seen in the video when Shekhawat was making the statement on Sunday.
The video has become talk of the town in Rajasthan politics as shekhawat has directly commented on making Rathore the CM face even though the party high command has so far not announced any CM face. The party has been maintaining that the polls will be contested on PM Modi' face.
The Congress has shared this video from its Twitter handle and attacked the BJP and Shekhawat.While sharing the video, the Congress wrote, "This is a proof of BJP's frustrated thinking for the people of Rajasthan. Look at this cheap behaviour of Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who stopped the work of ERCP and cheated the public.
The greedy for power are saying, ERCP will be made, I will give 46,000 crore, just make them rule." Shekhawat , on the other hand has given clarification on this and said that he said the Congress party is diverting attention from the core issue of ERCP.
He said, "When I was asked about ERCP, I said that when our government comes, we will bring it. When our government comes, we will accept the comprehensive form of river linking project."Rathore dismissed the Congress' charge and said that some jokes are cracked when party leaders meet and this should be taken in lighter note.