In what is being seen as the Congress's Hindutva push in Rajasthan, the party on Thursday welcomed former BJP leader Sadhvi Anadi Saraswati into the party fold. She joined Congress in the presence of CM Ashok Gehlot and Rajasthan Congress in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.
Her move comes barely three weeks after she staked claim to a BJP ticket for the Ajmer North seat. However, the BJP rejected her request. With the Congress yet to decide on a candidate for the constituency, Saraswati's induction into the party could also mean that the party is considering her candidature. The Ajmer north seat has been the BJP's bastion, with former minister and sitting MLA Vasudev Devnani winning the constituency for three times since 2018. The BJP has again named the 73-year-old Devnani for the seat in the hope of retaining it.
However, Sadhvi Anadi Saraswati, who brings with her not only her followers but also her political fans, could give the BJP candidate tough competition. After joining Congress, Sadhvi Anadi Saraswati said: "I think I am identified as a saint in the whole society. A saint is above any party politics. And a saint thinks of the Sanatan Dharma and the whole world as his family. His only goal is to serve the humankind. A saint does not require a stage, he is only focused on working... I want to thank the CM that he joined me to the party with respect..."
Earlier, she said that she wants to serve Rajasthan as Yogi Adityanath serves Uttar Pradesh. Saraswati, who is also known as Rajasthan's "Lady Adityanath", had earlier said that Yogi Adityanath took concrete steps to clean up mafia raj in UP.
The 200-member Rajasthan Assembly will go to polls on November 25 and the results will be declared on December 3.