Jaswant Singh, take note. When the BJP candidate files his nomination tomorrow in Barmer, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje will accompany him, said sources.Mr Singh, 76, lobbied unsuccessfully with his party for the Barmer constituency. The Rajasthan chief minister allegedly played a key role in ensuring it was allocated instead to Colonel Sona Ram Choudhary, who joined the BJP just days ago after quitting the Congress. (Op-ed: Jaswant Singh, BJP's odd one out)Mr Singh has filed his nomination as an independent candidate from Barmer. His rebellion is likely to impact his son, Manavendra Singh, who represents the BJP in the state legislature. On Saturday, Mr Singh broke down as he discussed his party's failure to back him. (BJP will suffer because of internal differences, says Jaswant Singh)Speaking to NDTV yesterday, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley made it clear that the party's decision is final. "I hope Jaswant Singh sees reason, and retracts his decision to contest. If the party tells you to work for the party, must learn to accept that. Lakhs of people work for the party without aspiring for a position," he said. (Leaders should learn to accept 'no': Jaitley)Mr Singh represented Darjeeling in Parliament. He wanted to contest from Barmer because he was born in a village here. (Colouring the electoral landscape: defectors and dissenters)Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje argued that as a Jat, Colonel Sona Ram Choudhary could be a big draw in Barmer, where Jats are the dominant community. Mr Singh is a Rajput. Ms Raje also reportedly hopes that fielding the Colonel will help the BJP get Jat support in adjoining constituencies. The Chief Minister's stock in the party is high ever since she handed the BJP a clean sweep of Rajasthan in state elections four months ago.
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