Jaswant's opium trouble brings relief to Raje

What was supposed to be a low-key ceremonial, celebratory lunch hosted by senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh in Barmer has turned out to be a big relief for his detractors.

Not only do Singh and nine others from the BJP face probe in a drugs case, the congregation of known detractors of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje at his house has taken the heat off Raje and given a new lease of life to state BJP chief Mahesh Sharma.

Top party sources said despite the misgivings of the Central leaders, dissidents in Rajasthan were to be mollified by the removal of Sharma.

Senior RSS functionary in the state, Shankar Lal Agarwal, had met Sharma and asked him to quit the post. Now, the lunch party of Raje detractors has put the Sangh firmly behind the chief minister.

The Sangh has no particular love for Singh and Raje, and may have been ready to entertain dissidence, but not if it is led by Singh.

Now, not only have plans for Sharma's exit been dropped, Agarwal has been moved out of Jaipur and asked to oversee Sangh activities in Sikar district.

All this is, of course, apart from the legal trouble that Singh finds himself in. He is accused of serving opium to guests.