Rajasthan Minister Kirodi Lal Meena Keeps Poll Promise, Resigns After BJP’s Electoral Setback

Jaipur: Rajasthan BJP leader Kirodi Lal Meena, 72, announced his resignation from the state cabinet and all posts during a public prayer meeting in Jaipur. Meena, who held key portfolios including Agriculture and Rural Development, had pledged to step down if the BJP lost any of the seven seats in eastern Rajasthan assigned to him by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

Prior to the vote counting, Meena stated, “…the PM spoke to me and gave me a list of seven seats. I worked hard (and) if the party loses even one seat out of that seven, I will leave the post of minister…”

Despite BJP’s strong performance in previous elections, the Congress-led INDIA bloc won eight seats, including four from Meena’s assigned constituencies: Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa, and Tonk-Sawai Madhopur. In Dausa, Meena’s former seat, Congress’ Murari Meena defeated BJP’s Kanhaiya Lal Meena by 2.37 lakh votes.

On Thursday, Meena reaffirmed his commitment to his promise by posting the Ramcharitmanas verse ‘Raghukul reeti sada chali aai, pran jaai par vachan na jaai’ on X.

रघुकुल रीति सदा चलि आई।
प्राण जाई पर बचन न जाई।।

(श्रीरामचरितमानस)

— Dr.Kirodi Lal Meena (@DrKirodilalBJP) July 4, 2024

He told reporters, “There is no reason for resentment. I have resigned. I did not attend the recent cabinet meeting… I could (not) go morally.”

Sources indicated that Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma attempted to dissuade Meena from resigning, but Meena remained firm in his decision. Meanwhile, the Congress’ Leader of the Opposition, Tika Ram Jully, welcomed the resignation, framing it as a reflection of the BJP government’s failure.

Overall, the BJP won 14 seats in Rajasthan, down from 24 in 2019. Nationally, the BJP secured 240 seats, falling short of its expected 370, while the Congress achieved its best result in three elections with 99 seats.