After securing a decisive mandate in the Hindi heartland States of Madhya Pradesh (MP), Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, the BJP high command is currently in a huddle to name the Chief Ministers (CM). It has been three days since the results of the Assembly polls were declared on Sunday.
Party sources said several rounds of meetings, involving top leaders, including BJP President JP Nadda, have taken place in the last two days to finalise the candidates for the key positions.
The party, despite having prominent leaders like multiple-time incumbent Chief Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan in MP, Vasundhara Raje Scindia in Rajasthan, and Raman Singh in Chhattisgarh in the electoral fray, did not go to the polls with a specific chief ministerial candidate.
While there has been no word from senior party leaders on the likely chief ministerial picks, names will be decided keeping in mind the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. Interestingly, party sources have revealed that all three winning States may have Deputy Chief Ministers, following the model the BJP has implemented in Uttar Pradesh under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath.
BJP sources said the central leadership will soon be appointing observers to oversee meetings of newly elected MLAs of the party in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan where they will elect their leaders. “Party will definitely keep in mind the major Lok Sabha elections within six months,” party sources said.
In Rajasthan, two-time Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia, Mahant Baba Balak Nath, Rajsamand MP Diya Kumari, and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat are the top four contenders for the top post in Rajasthan.
Although Vasundhara remains the front runner, at least until the Lok Sabha polls. Vasundhara is trying to impress the Central leadership and holding meetings with her loyalists since Sunday when the result were declared. On the other hand Shivraj Singh Chouhan in MP and Raman Singh in Chhattisgarh have maintained a low profile and have left the issue with Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.
Sources from Vasundhara camp claimed that nearly 50 MLAs have met her at her residence since then. She has been the Chief Minister of Rajasthan twice from 2003 to 2008 and from 2013 to 2018. While she was the chief ministerial face in earlier elections, the party decided to go to polls without projecting any leader for the post and Modi leading the campaign.
BJP Sources said the party is not very keen on Vasundhara having a third tenure as the Chief Minister.
The party’s in-charge for Rajasthan, Arun Singh, said the decision of the party’s parliamentary board about the Chief Minister’s post will be acceptable to all, even as newly elected MLAs continued to visit Baba Balak Nath. The Lok Sabha MP from Alwar is the head of the Baba Mastnath Math in Rohtak.
He was the BJP’s candidate for Assembly elections from the Tijara Assembly constituency. Known as ‘Rajasthan ka Yogi’ Balak Nath is the eighth ‘mahant’ (chief priest in a monastery) of Baba Mast Nath Math.
Another name that can be considered for the top job in Rajasthan is that of Gayatri Devi’s granddaughter and Rajsamand MP Diya Kumari. Previously, she was an MP from Sawai Madhopur. She is known for social work and was initially considered as an outsider in Sawai Madhopur.
In Madhya Pradesh among the probable names for the CM post being tossed around are incumbent favourite Chouhan, Kailash Vijayvargiya and Jyotiraditya Scindia.
In a video message on Tuesday, Chouhan said he had not been a contender for the CM’s post in the past, nor was he one now. “As a party worker, I have always carried out whatever work the BJP assigned me to the best of my ability, with dedication and honesty,” Chouhan said in a video statement posted on his social media account.
Similarly, in Chhattisgarh, the BJP is stuck in a conundrum of whether to give Raman Singh his fourth term as CM or to make a change. Chhattisgarh BJP president Arun Kumar Sao, Leader of Opposition Dharamlal Kaushik, and former IAS officer OP Chaudhary are seen as other contenders for the top job.
Union Minister Renuka Singh too is being considered as a potential candidate for the Chief Minister’s role in the tribal dominated State.