The anticipation builds as the BJP prepares to unveil the chief ministers for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, following the party’s victories in the recent assembly elections. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after deliberations with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President JP Nadda, gave the green light to three candidates for the coveted top positions.
The meeting lasted four hours at the Prime Minister’s residence. However, no official statement has been issued so far. The names of chief ministers will be announced in the meeting of the MLAs in the three states. According to sources, Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw is ahead of others in the race for the CM post. According to an agency, new for the CM job in the three states. So there is doubt about the prospects of Vasundhara Raje (Rajasthan), Shivraj Singh Chouhan (MP) and Raman Singh (Chhattisgarh) becoming Chief Minister. A faction in MP is still in favour of Chouhan as Chief Minister due, to attributing the landslide victory of the BJP to his work.
However, the party is likely to go for new faces for the CM post, keeping in view the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. According to sources, Raje and Raman Singh are unlikely to be given the CM posts in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, respectively. The party had not projected any CM face in all these states. The BJP fought polls on PM Modi’s face, so the credit for the victory is being given to him only. Raje’s meetings with MLAs in the last two days did not go down well with the leadership. A clarification later came from the Raje’s camp that the leadership’s decision would be accepted. Sources also say that Vasundhara Raje has shared her views with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. Significantly, Raje has reached Delhi where she will be meeting senior leaders.
While Vaishnaw has topped the contenders’ list for the CM post for Rajasthan, the names of Om Mathur, Raje, Diya Kumar, Balaknath, Om Birla, Bhupender Yadav, Anita Bhadel, and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat are also doing the rounds. Indications are that a name has been finalised, which may be announced on Saturday or Sunday in the meeting of MLAs. Meanwhile, Renuka Singh, Arun Sao, OP Chaudhary, Brajmohan Agrawal, Lata Usendi and Vijay Baghel are in the race for the CM post in Chhattisgarh.
Former CM Vasundhara Raje visits Delhi amid CM suspense
JAIPUR: Amidst ongoing discussions regarding the Chief Ministerial position in the Rajasthan BJP, former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje received a summons from Delhi late on Wednesday night. Following this, she left Jaipur Airport around 10:30 pm for Delhi. According to sources, she has been called to Delhi by the Central leadership. It is reported that upon reaching Delhi, she had meetings with senior party leaders late at night. Meanwhile, on Thursday, she will continue with meetings and discussions throughout the day.
