Rajasthan BJP gears up for key meeting today, CM expected to be announced
Jaipur, December 12: Following the resounding victory in the Rajasthan assembly elections, the newly elected BJP MLAs are poised to convene in Jaipur today to formally elect the next Chief Minister of the state. Scheduled at 4 pm at the BJP state office, this crucial meeting will witness the participation of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, acting as an observer, alongside co-observers Saroj Pandey and Vinod Tawde.
The gathering is a culmination of preparations overseen by State President CP Joshi and in-charge Arun Singh. Registration for the newly elected MLAs kicks off at 1:30 pm, preceding the BJP Legislature Party meeting at 4 pm. All BJP MLAs are mandated to attend, as reported by news agency PTI.
In anticipation of a potential Dalit leader being appointed as the new Chief Minister, Arun Singh hinted, "everything will be revealed tomorrow." The contenders for the CM's post reportedly include former CM Vasundhara Raje and Union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Ashwini Vaishnaw. Observers are engaging in individual discussions with MLAs before the formal election of the legislative party leader. The BJP secured 115 seats out of the 199 contested in the November 25 elections.
Amidst speculations, visits by MLAs to leaders like Vasundhara Raje are perceived as a show of support. However, Rajendra Rathore emphasised that these interactions should not be misinterpreted as lobbying, emphasizing unity among BJP leaders in the state.
Rathore also hinted at the formation of a new "double engine” government in Rajasthan, symbolizing governance at both state and central levels. Vasundhara Raje, a two-time chief minister and a key campaigner for the BJP in the recent assembly elections, stands as a prominent contender for the top post. Another contender is Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, known for his victory against Ashok Gehlot’s son in the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections from Jodhpur. Allegations of involvement in a credit cooperative scam and attempts to topple the Congress government have been raised against Shekhawat by Gehlot.
The candidacy pool also includes Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and CP Joshi, a two-time parliamentarian from Chittorgarh. Ashwini Vaishnaw, Sunil Bansal, Om Birla, Om Prakash Mathur, along with three resigned MPs, Baba Balaknath, Diya Kumari, and Kirodi Lal Meena, are also among the contenders.
Speculations regarding a Dalit leader being chosen as Chief Minister were met with a cryptic response from state in-charge Arun Singh, hinting at a revelation on the following day. Monday saw State BJP President CP Joshi meeting the newly-elected MLAs, alongside key leaders. However, Rathore condemned any attempts at lobbying for the chief minister's post, emphasizing the BJP's votes received in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
As MLAs congregated at Raje’s residence in Jaipur, Joshi clarified that Raje's stature as a national vice-president and two-time chief minister warranted meetings with newly elected MLAs. The swearing-in ceremony for the chief minister and council of ministers is expected to take place on Friday, as per party sources.
- With inputs from agencies
