Jaipur : The year 1993 was famous in the politics of Rajasthan for a special reason. The date was December 3, exactly 31 years ago when there was a dispute between the Governor of Rajasthan and BJP. The dispute was such that it later became history. The atmosphere became so heated that after a few days, BJP leaders including Bhairon Singh Shekhawat sat on a dharna outside the Raj Bhavan. This whole matter started after the declaration of election results on November 28, 1993. During that time, BJP emerged as the largest party and Shekhawat, known as ‘Babosa’ in Rajasthan, was elected the leader of the legislative party by the BJP the very next day. When the Governor did not receive the invitation to form the government despite requests from the BJP, the party leaders also made statements against the Governor. Whatever happened next is history. Let us know about that incident.
In the 1993 assembly elections, BJP won 95 seats and Congress won 76 seats. The special thing about this election result was that for the first time, BJP had demolished many of its old forts in Mewar, Marwar and Bikaner divisions, which were considered strongholds of Congress, in large numbers. Also maintained its influence in Hadoti (Kota) area. Even in Shekhawati, BJP remained equal to Congress. Out of 42 seats in Marwar, BJP got 19 seats, two more than Congress, whereas in 1990 it did not have a single seat.
Congress ruling at the center missed majority in Rajasthan.
In the Tenth Assembly (1993-98) too, like the 1967 election results, no party got a clear majority. There was a Congress government at the Centre, but in Rajasthan the Congress was far away from majority. During that time, many of the 21 independents were rebels of the same party. Despite all this, Congress tried its best to form the government. On the other hand, the very next day after the election results, on November 29, in the presence of national leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee, BJP unanimously elected former Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat as the leader of the legislature party.
According to journalist Vijay Bhandari’s book ‘Politics of Rajasthan: From Feudalism to Casteism’, written information about this was also sent by BJP State President Ramdas Aggarwal to the Governor through a letter. He had requested to invite Shekhawat, the leader of the largest party in the assembly, to form the government. Aggarwal informed the Governor that BJP has the support of 95 declared elected MLAs and 3 independents. He clarified that the said independents were elected with the support of BJP and even before the elections, they had announced to stay with our party. The names of these independents were Gangaram Chaudhary from Barmer, Bhagwandas Dosi from Chauhtan (Barmer) and Kunwar Arun Singh from Deeg (Bharatpur). After the start of the election process in Rajakheda of Dholpur district, the election was postponed due to the death of BJP candidate Mahendra Singh, due to which voting was held only on 199 seats.
He clarified that the said independents were elected with the support of BJP and even before the elections, they had announced to stay with our party. The names of these independents were Gangaram Chaudhary from Barmer, Bhagwandas Dosi from Chauhtan (Barmer) and Kunwar Arun Singh from Deeg (Bharatpur). After the start of the election process in Rajakheda of Dholpur district, the election was postponed due to the death of BJP candidate Mahendra Singh, due to which voting was held only on 199 seats.
In a letter sent the next day on November 30, Agarwal informed the Governor that 5 more independent MLAs had supported Bhairon Singh. In which the names of Sujan Singh Yadav, Rohitashvkumar, Gyan Singh Choudhary, Mangalram Koli and Narendra Kanwar were included. BJP claimed a total number of 103. Whereas due to disunity in the party and lack of leadership, the Congress Party could not even elect the leader of its legislature party. However, three days after the results were declared, former Chief Minister Haridev Joshi was declared the leader.
MLA asked the Governor- How much is 95+14?
Here, Governor Baliram Bhagat did not send a letter to BJP leader Bhairon Singh to form the government even on the evening of December 3, 1993. BJP started giving statements in newspapers raising questions on the honesty of the Governor. There was huge political excitement and a situation of great uncertainty for 5 days in the state capital Jaipur. Congress Prime Minister P.V. BJP started raising doubts due to Narasimha Rao’s government and former Congress leader Baliram Bhagat being the Governor. Meanwhile, BJP kept all the MLAs of its party in the state party headquarters. Due to lack of space there, a tent was put up there.
By then, Congress had also submitted to the Governor the claim of Haridev Joshi being elected as the leader and having clear majority support in the Assembly. The Governor invited the leaders of both the parties together to Raj Bhavan on 3 December 93. Aggarwal had also taken some MLAs with him, which included some independent MLAs. Independent MLA Narendra Kanwar had even said sarcastically in front of the Governor, “How much is 95+14? Don’t these two hundred constitute a majority?”. Later she also became Minister of State in the Shekhawat government.
Independent MLA Narendra Kanwar had even said sarcastically in front of the Governor, “How much is 95+14? Don’t these two hundred constitute a majority?”. Later she also became Minister of State in the Shekhawat government.
During this, hundreds of people gathered outside the Raj Bhavan and started raising slogans to invite Shekhawat to form the government. Then Shekhawat and former state president Aggarwal also sat aside on the lawn of Raj Bhavan instead of going out. In this tense atmosphere, the Governor came out of his chamber, on his request the BJP leaders went to the guest house of Raj Bhavan and then to the party headquarters and waited for the invitation letter. The day is over, it’s night. Talks were taking place on phone from both sides, but the invitation letter did not arrive. Making serious allegations, a Congress MLA from Pali district said that ‘BJP has imprisoned the MLAs like slaves.’ However, after some time, BJP also got the invitation to form the government.
Hundreds of people gathered outside the Raj Bhavan and started raising slogans to invite Shekhawat to form the government. Then Shekhawat and former state president Aggarwal also sat aside on the lawn of Raj Bhavan instead of going out. In this tense atmosphere, the Governor came out of his chamber, on his request the BJP leaders went to the guest house of Raj Bhavan and then to the party headquarters and waited for the invitation letter.
The former Governor had said- I am one of the makers of the Constitution, I will not do anything wrong.
According to the book by journalist Vijay Bhandari, the former Governor said, “I called both the parties together for transparency and made the entire situation clear. Since both the parties were claiming the support of independents. That’s why I told everyone to get it written down. I had also said that I am a man of the Gandhi-Nehru era and am among the makers of the Constitution. Therefore, I will not do any wrong thing and will completely follow the limits of the Constitution. That’s why I got everyone to write it down, which also had pictures of those MLAs on it. I did all the work in a transparent manner and had invited Bhairon Singh Shekhawat to form the government.”
These leaders got the responsibility in Shekhawat government
A week later, on December 11, 1993, the Chief Minister formed his cabinet, in which six ministers, 14 ministers of state and two deputy ministers were included. Bhanwarlal Sharma, Lalitkishore Chaturvedi, Devisingh Bhati, Gulabchand Kataria, two independent MLAs Sujansingh Yadav and Gangaram Chaudhary were included. Apart from this, Ministers of State include Nathusingh Gurjar, Rajendra Singh Rathore, Jaswant Singh Vishnoi, Shrikishan Songara, Nandlal Meena, Dr. Rampratap, Anangkumar Jain, Madan Dilawar, Achalaram Meghwal, Prof. Sanwarmal Jat, Rohitashvkumar, Gyan Singh Chaudhary, Narendra Kanwar and Mrs. Shashidatta were also included. Two independent MLAs Gurjant Singh and Mangalram Koli were appointed Deputy Ministers. Eleven days later, on 22 December, Arjun Singh Deora was appointed Minister of State and given independent charge of three departments.
