Since then Raje's rise has been steady which culminated in her becoming the state's first woman chief minister in 2003 when the “angrezi-speaking maharani”, a phrase used by her critics to refer to her elitist and royal background, led BJP to its most famous victory in the predominantly rural state.
Raje became the leader of Opposition but had to quit in February, 2010, on the party's directions after BJP suffered a drubbing in Lok Sabha polls, winning only four of 25 seats.
