In the aftermath of recent assembly elections across five states in India—Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram—significant political developments have emerged. While the BJP secured wins in three states, Congress and Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) claimed victories in one state each. Notably, Congress has named Revanth Reddy for Telangana, while Lalduhoma of ZPM will be the new Chief Minister in Mizoram.
However, clarity is yet to emerge concerning Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan. The BJP emerged victorious in all three states. Surprisingly, the BJP did not announce a CM face for these elections, opting instead to campaign with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image. For the BJP, the major challenge lies in the multiple contenders vying for the CM position across these states.
Madhya Pradesh’s Ongoing Conundrum:
Multiple BJP candidates have surfaced for the CM post in Madhya Pradesh. Kailash Vijayvargiya holds a prominent position among them. Alongside him, names like Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister Prahlad Patel, Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Narendra Singh Tomar are actively competing.
Competitive Landscape in Rajasthan:
Similar challenges confront the party in Rajasthan, where numerous names are in contention for the CM role. The list includes Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Rajasthan BJP Chief CP Joshi, and Diya Kumari. However, the prominence of Mahant Balaknath within this pool adds an interesting dimension, aligning with Vasundhara Raje’s camp.
Chhattisgarh’s Chief Ministerial Quest:
In Chhattisgarh, former Chief Minister Raman Singh, State BJP President Arun Kumar, opposition leader Dharamlal Kaushik, and ex-IAS officer OP Choudhary’s names have been circulating for the Chief Minister’s post. Now, the party faces the task of finalizing a single candidate from these contenders.
Amidst this intricate political landscape, analyzing and strategizing around these potential CM faces becomes crucial for the BJP. The absence of a declared CM candidate during the elections reflects the party’s reliance on Prime Minister Modi’s popularity. Yet, navigating through multiple formidable contenders in all three states poses a substantial challenge.