Amit Shah unites factions behind IAS-turned-neta OP Saini

KARAULI: BJP chief Amit Shah addressed voters in Karauli on Thursday to rally support for Om Prakash Saini, a senior bureaucrat who took voluntary retirement six months before he was due to retire and joined the party although he was once considered to be close to the Congress and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot.

Shah’s rally gave a much-needed impetus to the divided BJP cadre in the constituency which was raising questions on Saini being given the party ticket although he was an “outsider”. “The party president has asked us to support Saini to ensure the BJP’s victory. Now we will work together for the party’s win,” said a BJP functionary, who did not wish to be identified.

A 1983 batch IAS officer, Saini is a native of Haryana and was chairman of the Rajasthan Civil Services Appellate Tribunal. He is locking horns with the sitting MLA from the Congress, Darshan Singh Gujjar, in the Gujjar-dominated seat. In 2013, Gujjar had defeated the BJP candidate Rohini Kumari.


“As an all-India level officer, I have been given the mandate to serve people across the country. How can I be an outsider to Karauli, the place I had served as the state’s administrative officer working in various positions?” Saini asked.

On the other hand, Gujjar is banking on the 35,000 Gujjar voters, 30,000 Scheduled Castes, 28,000 tribals, 14,000 Sainis, 14,000 Jats and 10,000 Rajputs among 2.32 lakh voters in the constituency. “We are getting support from all sections of society. I have worked very hard for my constituency,” he said.