Jaipur:
After quitting as Opposition leader in Rajasthan on the diktat of the BJP's top leadership, Vasundhara Raje returned to Jaipur with a grand show of strength.
With supporters turning up in thousands the political sub text was clear - that despite her resignation and the BJP High Command's anger Raje will not give up her bid to dominate in Rajasthan.
"Given your love and blessings, I have decided that I will always work for the people of Rajasthan no matter what problems I have to face," she said while addressing her supporters.
If Raje's tone is combative, her loyalists are going a step further with some MLAs openly hitting out at the BJP's top brass in Delhi.
"This so-called high command has already sunk. And they now want to demolish whatever is left of the party at the state level through the power of party workers," said Rohitash Kumar, a BJP MLA from Alwar.
Raje was forced to resign, reportedly under Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) pressure. And significantly, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat met up with Bhairon Singh Shekhawat during his Jaipur trip. This set off a buzz that Shekhawat's son-in-law, Narpat Singh Rajvi, may be a frontrunner to succeed Raje as Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan.
"The meeting went of very well, much better than whatever you may be speculating," said Shekhawat.
And with Raje baiters ow flocking to Shekhawat, political equations in the state BJP are churning overtime.
Raje's resignation may have given some satisfaction to BJP President Rajnath Singh, but the party's problems here are far from over. And given the uncompromising mood among party factions it's clear that the rift in the Rajasthan BJP is set to escalate.