BJP Contemplates Fresh Faces for Chief Ministerial Roles in Heartland States
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is reportedly considering the appointment of new faces for the Chief Ministerial positions in the key states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, where the party secured resounding victories in the recent polls. Highly placed sources within the party suggest that this strategic decision aligns with the BJP’s vision for the upcoming 2024 general elections.
Despite having experienced leaders who have previously served as Chief Ministers in all three states—Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Vasundhara Raje, and Raman Singh—the BJP insiders indicate that a shift towards a generational change is not out of the question as the party leadership deliberates on its Chief Ministerial choices.
The BJP emerged triumphant in the Assembly elections of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, with results declared this past Sunday. Post the electoral success, the party’s central leadership engaged in extensive discussions during a four-and-a-half-hour meeting at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence. Prime Minister Modi, along with Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP Chief JP Nadda, delved into the deliberation on potential candidates for the Chief Ministerial positions in the three states.
Preceding this pivotal meeting, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP Chief JP Nadda had conducted a series of discussions with the BJP’s state in-charges to gather valuable feedback regarding the state leaders.
In anticipation of the formal selection process, the BJP’s central leadership is anticipated to appoint observers specifically tasked with overseeing the meetings of the newly elected MLAs in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh. These observers will play a pivotal role in facilitating the election of leaders within the Assembly.
In Madhya Pradesh, the incumbent Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is considered a strong contender for the top post. Other potential candidates include Union ministers Prahlad Patel, Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Narendra Singh Tomar, along with senior state leader Kailash Vijayvargiya.
Similarly, Rajasthan sees several names in contention for the Chief Ministerial position. Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Arjun Ram Meghwal, state party president C P Joshi, and prominent leaders Diya Kumari and Mahant Balaknath are all being regarded as possible candidates.
In Chhattisgarh, former Chief Minister Raman Singh is among the contenders, alongside State BJP President Arun Kumar Sao, Leader of Opposition Dharamlal Kaushik, and former IAS officer O P Chaudhary.
It’s worth noting that the BJP leadership is renowned for its ability to spring surprises with unexpected choices, adding an element of anticipation to the unfolding developments in these crucial states.