Months after claiming to resign as a minister if BJP lost the Dausa Lok Sabha seat, Kirodi Lal Meena on Wednesday resigned as a Cabinet Minister in the Rajasthan government followed by Bharatiya Janata Party’s disappointing performance in the recent Lok Sabha polls in the state.

The 72-year-old had pledged to resign from the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led government in Rajasthan if BJP lost any of the seven parliamentary seats he was responsible for. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assigned him these seats in eastern Rajasthan, and he had put in considerable effort during the campaign.

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Contrary to his expectations, the Lok Sabha election results were devastating for BJP, which lost several key seats, including Meena’s native Dausa, on June 4. Overall, BJP secured only 14 out of Rajasthan’s 25 seats, a decline from 24 seats in 2019.

According to PTI, an aide of Meena confirmed, “Kirodi Meena resigned as minister. He gave the resignation to the chief minister 10 days back.”

Last Thursday, Meena posted a line from the famous Ramcharitramanas, ‘Raghukul reeti sada chali aai, pran jaai par vachan na jaai,’ underscoring his steadfast commitment to fulfilling his promise at any cost.

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During his campaign, Meena focused on eastern Rajasthan seats including Dausa, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Alwar, Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, and Kota-Bundi. However, in the recent results, BJP lost Dausa, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, and Tonk-Sawai Madhopur.

Explaining his decision, Meena stated, “There is no reason for resentment. I have resigned. I did not go to the recent Cabinet meeting because if I had resigned. I could go morally. I had also met the CM. He had respectfully said that he will not accept the resignation,” he told a news channel.

Meena, a five-time MLA and former Rajya Sabha MP, had been a Lok Sabha MP from both Dausa and Sawai Madhopur. He was also in contention for the chief minister’s post after the assembly election results last December, but the party leadership chose first-time MLA Bhajanlal Sharma to lead the state.