BJP MlA from Budhni and Vidisha Shivraj Singh Chouhan would take oath as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh for the third consecutive time in a grand function at Jamboree ground here on December 14. This would be followed by the announcement of his new Cabinet three days later on December 17.
The meeting of BJP legislators would be held on December 13 at the State party headquarters in the presence of leader of the Opposition in the lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, BJP general secretaries Ananth Kumar and Rajiv Pratap Rudy.
The decision was taken at a party meeting here on Monday, after Shivraj Singh Chouhan tendered his resignation to the Governor to sign off from his position after having completed his second term successfully.
Earlier in the day, Chouhan called on Governor Ram Naresh Yadav at Raj Bhavan here on Monday. Chouhan submitted his resignation as well as of his council of Ministers to the Governor. Accepting Chief Minister's resignation, Governor Yadav asked him and his council of Ministers to continue looking after work of the State Government till swearing-in of new Chief Minister.
Governor Yadav congratulated Chouhan for scoring hat-trick. Chouhan claimed before the Governor for the formation of next Government and sought his nod for the oath-taking ceremony on December 14.
Chouhan, later talking to the media said, "The electorate now understands the positive politics and that is why the opposition should learn lesson from it and should not indulge in levelling baseless charges and should do positive politics."
The new Shivraj Cabinet will be an interesting bet for many, especially as 10 of BJP's incumbent Ministers have lost the polls, even as the ruling party scored a hat-trick in the Assembly polls this year. This hints at some new faces getting a place in his Cabinet.
The Ministers could not win the election due to the anti-incumbency wave prevailing against them, sources said.
Now, the new Cabinet set to be announced on December 17 will have some fresh faces. It is yet to be seen who will be given a chance to be part of third-time CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan's Cabinet.
Advani, Modi to attend swearing-in
A galaxy of BJP leaders, including its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, is expected to attend the oath-taking ceremony.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders — including former Deputy Prime Minister lK Advani, party president Rajnath Singh, leader of the Opposition in the lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, leader of the Opposition in tge Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, State general secretary in-charge Ananth Kumar and national organisational general secretary Ramlal — besides others would be especially present on the occasion.
On this occasion all the legislators of the party and BJP workers would be invited to attend the ceremony.