BJP has miraculously shined in the state assembly elections of 2023. People have chosen BJP´s leadership in 3 states like Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
On a day when Telangana saw its first Congress government take oath in Hyderabad, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s chief ministerial candidates in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh remained in large limbo.
Among the speculation about who is running for Chief Minister in these states, two major themes have emerged, particularly in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The desire of the BJP’s central leadership to effect generational change in these states, and the continued considerable influence among MLAs and party organisation of old satraps Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Vasundhara Raje.
The BJP’s effort for collective leadership under the common tent given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal was expected to make things easier for the BJP once the election was over.
BJP leadership stratergy
The BJP’s attempt for collective leadership under the common cover given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal was supposed to ease the BJP’s situation whenever the necessity to select the Chief Minister emerged.
If Ms. Raje and Mr. Chouhan were not the faces that the party projected during the elections, logic dictates that they are not the choice; but, the nature of the mandate in these two states has muddied the matter.
“Many Raje loyalists have won in Rajasthan, as evidenced by the parade of at least 30 MLAs a few days ago at her Jaipur residence.” Even the BJP rebels who prevailed are Vasundhara Raje supporters.
Leaders like Satish Poonia and Rajendra Rathore, who had been organising against her, lost the election. “The big victory in Madhya Pradesh is being attributed jointly to PM Modi and CM Chouhan’s Laadli Behena scheme,” claimed a senior party official.
Ms. Raje recently traveled to Delhi for discussions with the senior leadership, as central observers will be chosen to speak to the State legislature party. She met with the party President J.P. Nadda.
PM tells the party MPs that data demonstrates the BJP is the chosen party for administration. Mr. Chouhan kept up the feverish pace of his election campaign in Madhya Pradesh even after a stunning victory, initiating what he called “Mission 29,” or plans to win all 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh.
As far as the BJP is concerned, the most unexpected victory in Chhattisgarh is leading to a smoother ride in terms of selecting a Chief Minister. Former Chief Minister Raman Singh had long ruled himself out of contention in this campaign.
“Here, we need to make the choice between a tribal or OBC Chief Minister and there are good candidates in both categories,” a source familiar with the matter said. Former Union Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, current Union Minister Renuka Singh, former bureaucrat O.P. Choudhary, and State BJP president Arun Sao are among the frontrunners in this race.
Way forward
Long deliberations to select choices for Chief Ministers by BJP indicate the fact that the name picked will be a pointer to the future. The party has always stated that one of its main strategies is to carry youth, young ideas and experienced leadership together.
All eyes are eagerly waiting for the CM faces in the three states Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
