A year may be a long time in politics, but for the first woman chief minister of Rajasthan the past 12 months have been a belly-crunching blink of successes and slumps, a drill in defiant decision-making and draining obstacles. The Maharani couldn't have enjoyed it more.

It has been so ever since a reluctant Vasundhara Raje was plucked from a cushy Union ministry and pushed to resuscitate a barely breathing BJP in Rajasthan. A bewildering string of wins in by-elections, assembly and Lok Sabha polls saw her swift ascendance to the top post. What followed is a singular style of governance that has not only drawn comparisons with her predecessors but also praise and criticism in equal measure. Unfazed, Raje plods on with her blend of contemporary ideas and innovative approach, speaking her mind at meetings and effectively managing the state's finances, one of her Government's biggest success stories.

''For the first time we cannot blame lack of resources for stalling the projects,'' says a senior government official. This, because she enabled the release of funds immediately after the budget for all the listed projects. There has been an 18 per cent increase in tax revenue despite a rebate in tax rates, including a 32 per cent growth in the registration and stamp duty collection.

PICTURE SPEAK

BOURGEOIS BONDS: Raje is intent on perfecting her people skills

''I have to make people happy,'' the chief minister insists. This includes farmers for whom she is willing to buy power from other states. ''I have to humanise the chief minister's office. I run a family,'' she adds. So she meets 200-250 visitors every day, helps collect free heart valves, often orders instant medical treatment for those who seek help and has even transformed her official residence into a showcase for Rajasthan's royal heritage. ''She is not hypocritical, wants to add fun to people's lives and is not apologetic about her contemporary ideas,'' says an official.

What has also helped implement some of the liberal policies are the recent local bodies polls and the impending panchayat polls in February next year. However, the defeat in the Merta by-poll in October-which had her own party opposing her nominee-has made her realise that governance is as important as road shows and caste politics. ''The Merta defeat has demolished their illusions that they have won over the castes,'' says Narain Singh, president of the Pradesh Congress Committee.

Criticism has also come from the bureaucracy as her initial penchant for posting officers on the basis of their presentations resulted in crucial jobs being entrusted to inefficient people. Besides, when she appointed Govind Mohan, a Sikkim cadre officer, as her secretary, the decision created a furore among the senior bureaucrats for despite being efficient, Mohan was a junior and an outsider. As a remedial measure, Raje had to bring in D.C. Samant, additional chief secretary, as her second secretary, last month.

Raje also has to contend with the growing feeling that she is incapable of taking tough decisions. For instance, on the demand of the Congress and environmentalists, she took a cabinet decision to release Panchana dam water to save the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. However, the next morning she reversed it when the farmers protested that it would ruin their crops. Similarly, she failed to assess the situation and take action in Sri Ganganagar where five farmers were killed in police firing when they were agitating for release of water for their crops. Raje is beginning to understand that she faces a tough task as an administrator, a far cry from being a poll winner. ''I could only do a crash course in a state that was new to me,'' she says.

It is a state grappling with corruption, encroachments and building by-law violations, poor sanitation and traffic problems. While admitting that she faces a herculean task, Raje is intent on launching new projects in healthcare, education, urban development and business sector. Cynicism abounds about the success of such models, with officials insisting the state is incapable of turning into an Andhra Pradesh. But Raje retorts: ''I will build a Rajasthan model.'' So there are several projects in the offing on education, private partnership in health, a knowledge corridor focusing on business services, information and biotechnology near Delhi, a sports city near Jaipur, and plans to offer tourist circuits to private parties. To this end, she has been luring business leaders to the state.

For her plans to take shape, Raje is banking on the crop of young ministers. ''The bureaucracy acts haughty with them but I stand behind their fresh ideas,'' she says. There is a strong apprehension that these ventures may be ploys to acquire land at cheap rates and use it to make money rather than utilise it for the projects. It was because of such land deals that the previous Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government faced charges of corruption and favouritism. Raje is being compared not only with Gehlot who acted tough but also her own partyman and former chief minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who was said to be indecisive due to the demands of his coalition government.

Raje is aware of the traps and is trying her best to avoid them. So she keeps her son Dushyant, an MP, away from her official residence. ''There is the danger of people swarming around him to gain access to me,'' she says. It may not be enough. The Maharani will have to strive harder to conquer.

INTERVIEW: VASUNDHARA RAJE

"I erred. I can correct my wrongs." Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje spoke to Special Correspondent Rohit Parihar on completing her first year in power. Q. How do you feel after a year in the chief minister's chair? A. I am trying to understand the commoner, his work, his life. I want to be a normal Rajasthani. Q. A normal Rajasthani is complaining about power, corruption, poor sanitation and other problems. A. I am working to amend the systems that have lost their effectiveness. Q. But there is no change in people's lives. A. It will take time to improve things. I may not be able to give everyone eight chappatis but will ensure at least two. Q. The bureaucrats say it is difficult to communicate with you. A. I have started speaking to them directly even on subjects not directly under them. Q. You did not react in time to avert the firing on farmers in Sri Ganganagar in which five people were killed. A. I did not realise the gravity of the problem. I have just done a crash course on the state's problems. Yes, I erred, but as my intentions are right I can correct my wrongs. Q. You brought in young blood during your first expansion after having experienced people earlier. How is it working? A. Experience checks the exaggerated enthusiasm of the young but I am happy with the youth. They think out of box and have a fresh way of looking at things. Q. Chief ministers tend to cut themselves off from the grassroots as they bank on official feedback. A. I will soon begin spending a few days every month in villages. These will be surprise visits. Q. You seem to be enjoying your term in power. A. Yes, and I want people to have fun too. It is better then going into a depression.

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