With Vasundhara Raje in trouble over Lalit Modi controversy, Rajasthan unit of BJP today came out in open support for the embattled Chief Minister who herself rubbished reports about a signature campaign by her to demonstrate backing of 120 MLAs.
While the central BJP continued to back her, state unit President Ashok Parnami held a press conference here, saying that all allegations against Raje were "baseless" and mounted by Congress to defame her.
"All allegations against Raje are baseless. By levelling such allegations, Congress is indulging political vendetta against her and targeting decades-old family relations between her and Lalit Modi," Parnami said.
He asserted that the BJP is fully with the Chief Minister who has been elected by the MLAs.
Referring to the controversial 'affidavit' in support of Lalit Modi, he said the signature on it was that of Raje but it was only a "draft" which was never presented before any court or any other legal body in the UK.
"The Chief Minister has not appeared before any court or given any affidavit. The statement is not addressed to any court (in UK)," he insisted.
About the mention in that "draft" that the letter be kept confidential, Parnami said it was written deliberately "so that the ugly face of revenge by Congress against Raje did not come before the international media, which was a clear possibility in the surcharged political atmosphere at that time (in 2011)."
Meanwhile, facing intense opposition heat, Raje dismissed media reports about a signature campaign by 120 party MLAs in her support.
In a statement, a CMO spokesman said the Chief Minister holds "jansunwai" (public hearing) at her residence every Friday, and for this many MLAs come with the public of their constituency for putting forward their problems and demands.
"Similarly today, the CM is holding public hearing in which MLAs and party workers are meeting", the spokesman said.
"The news of signature by 120 MLAs (in her support) is completely wrong. It is not fair to link public hearing with a different view", he said.
The CMO said the Chief Minister never asked or made any call to MLAs to show their strength and support.
