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Suspense Continues: BJP To Appoint Observers Tomorrow For Chief Minister Selection In Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh

Nishtha Anushree

Dec 07, 2023, 07:37 PM | Updated 07:37 PM IST


BJP leaders going to Parliamentary party meeting
BJP leaders going to Parliamentary party meeting

The BJP is yet to finalise the chief ministers for the three states where they recently won assembly elections. The party plans to designate observers for these states tomorrow to assist in finalising the selection, according to NDTV sources.

Several names are reportedly being considered for the role of chief minister in the three states of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh. Observers are expected to supervise meetings of the recently elected MLAs.

The BJP contested the elections without specifying a candidate for the position of Chief Minister but it achieved a significant mandate. This overwhelming support in these states is viewed by many within the BJP as a robust endorsement of its policies and the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, indicating broader public support.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan continues to be a formidable candidate in Madhya Pradesh, in the wake of his party's triumphant two-thirds majority victory. Union ministers such as Prahlad Patel, Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Narendra Singh Tomar are also perceived as potential contenders.

Political analysts view several individuals as potential contenders in Chhattisgarh, including ex-chief minister Raman Singh, state BJP president Arun Kumar Sao, leader of Opposition Dharamlal Kaushik, and former IAS officer OP Chaudhary. It's noteworthy that aside from Singh, all these leaders belong to the Other Backward Classes (OBC).

However, the BJP leadership has frequently astonished analysts with their past selections for chief minister.

Vasundhara Raje, the former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, is viewed as a potential candidate for the highest position. A group of around 25 BJP MLAs met with her on Monday, interpreted as a demonstration of backing and power.

Although the MLAs labeled the gathering as a courtesy visit, they expressed their willingness to support Raje if the party's leadership selects her for the prime position.

Nishtha Anushree is Senior Sub-editor at Swarajya. She tweets at @nishthaanushree.


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