With a few rounds of meetings and interactions by the elected MLAs of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh with the party-appointed Central observers completed, the BJP is all set to announce the chief ministerial picks by Monday and expedite the oath ceremony before the beginning of the inauspicious period called ‘Malemas’ or ‘Kharmas’ in the Hindu Sanatan Dharma tradition.

“The CM for all three States are likely to be announced by the party by Monday and the party wants to wrap up the swearing-in exercise by December 15,” a senior BJP leader said.

The Central observers for Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh were announced on Friday. The party is in a hurry because Malmas, also known as Kharmas, begins on December 16 — an inauspicious time when all auspicious activities are forbidden.

Sources said the BJP Legislature Party Meeting has been called on Monday in Bhopal at 4 pm. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Dr K Laxman, and Asha Lakra will be overseeing the entire process of electing the leader of the legislature party. The CM designate of Madhya Pradesh is likely to be announced by Monday evening itself. The party this time did not go to the election with incumbent Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s face and got a massive mandate of 163 seats out of 199.

The BJP has scheduled the Legislature Party Meeting in Chhattisgarh for Sunday, during which Union Ministers Arjun Munda, Sarbananda Sonowal, and Dushyant Kumar Gautam will oversee the process of electing the leader of the legislature party.

It is widely speculated that Dr Raman Singh, who was the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh till 2018, won’t be repeated. While the BJP is said to be keen on an OBC or tribal chief ministerial face, the party isn’t sensing any Opposition from Dr Singh. The BJP sprung a surprise in the State where it won 54 seats, ousting the Bhupesh Baghel Government.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s expertise as a master troubleshooter will be tested since former CM Vasundhara Raje has been pressing to get into the hot seat again.

Nearly 25 newly elected BJP MLAs recently met Raje, seen as a show of strength by her. Despite no contenders openly vying for the post, Raje has met with BJP chief JP Nadda.