Former Union Minister Vishnu Deo Sai To Be Chhattisgarh's Next Chief Minister

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reportedly picked former Chhattisgarh BJP president and ex-Union minister of state, Vishnu Deo Sai, as the next Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, putting an end to days of speculation.

The decision was reached during a crucial meeting involving the BJP's recently-elected 54 Members of the Legislative Assembly in Raipur.

Vishnu Deo Sai, aged 59, emerged victorious in the recently concluded assembly polls from Kunkuri in north Chhattisgarh, a region that witnessed a sweeping victory for the BJP.

Hailing from the influential Sahu (Teli) community, which holds a substantial presence in the Durg, Raipur, and Bilaspur divisions, Sai's selection aligns strategically with the party's considerations.

The Other Backward Classes (OBCs), constituting approximately 45 per cent of the state's population, played a significant role in the BJP's electoral triumph.

The BJP secured 54 out of the 90 seats in the state, while the Congress, which had claimed 68 seats in 2018, saw a considerable reduction to 35 seats. The Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP) secured one seat in the assembly elections.

Amidst speculations, it had been anticipated that the BJP might opt for an OBC chief minister if not selecting party stalwart Raman Singh.

The BJP's dominance in the tribal-dominated Surguja division, where the Congress had previously secured all 14 seats in 2018, is seen as a critical factor contributing to its remarkable victory.

Sai, belonging to this division, is now set to lead the state.

Tribal communities, comprising 32 per cent of the state's population, played a crucial role in the BJP's success. The party secured 17 out of the 29 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) in this election.