MP CM Likely Monday, C’garh CM Today; Shivraj's 'Sabhi ko Ram Ram' Sparks Interest

BHOPAL: The BJP legislature parties in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are scheduled to meet on Sunday and Monday respectively to elect their leaders and end the week-long suspense over the chief minister faces in the two states.

However, sources indicated that bumpy rides are ahead for the observers, appointed for the two states to oversee the election of leaders of the BJP legislature parties there.

Supporters of Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and former chief minister of Chhattisgarh Dr Raman Singh may mount pressure on them to retain the two regional satraps as chief ministers in their respective states, senior BJP functionaries in the two states indicated to this newspaper on Saturday.

In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP legislature party is scheduled to meet on Monday to elect its leader.

“The meeting of the BJP legislature party is scheduled to be held at four pm on Monday for the election of its leader”, state party president Vishnu Dutt Sharma said here on Saturday.

He said that the three observers appointed by the parliamentary board of the party to oversee the election process would be present on the occasion.

Sources said that the three observers are scheduled to arrive in Bhopal on Monday morning to attend the meeting.

The three observers appointed for Madhya Pradesh are Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, national head of party’s OBC wing Dr K Laxman and BJP national secretary Asha Lakda.

Amid reports that the party’s Central leadership may opt for fresh faces as chief minister in the three states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, names of former Union ministers Prallhad Patel and Narendra Singh Tomar, and BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya as prospective chief ministerial candidates for MP are primarily making rounds in the BJP circles here.

“However, one should not hazard a guess on any name at the juncture. BJP may also spring a surprise by announcing another name for the post”, a senior BJP leader indicated.

Sources said that the three observers may also hold one-to-one meetings with the newly elected MLAs of the party if there will be lack of consensus on the ‘choice of the Central leadership’ on the new chief minister in the BJP legislature party meeting.

“The BJP MLAs will have a significant say on the selection of the chief minister”, sources said.

Replying to a question by reporters here on the issue, the state BJP chief said that, “(The matters relating to) who will be chief minister, who will be deputy chief minister and if there will be a post of deputy chief minister or not, will be decided by the Central leadership of the party”.

He later hastened to add that the BJP legislature party would elect its leader.

Amid deepening suspense over the chief minister face in MP, outgoing chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who appeared not to have given up hope of his retaining the post, on Saturday posted a cryptic message in his social media account which read, “Sabhi ko Ram Ram” (My greetings to all).

The social media post by Mr Chouhan has created flutter in the BJP circles here with various sections making different interpretations of the message as to if he is indicating to bow out of the race for CM post or saying he is very much in the race.

Mr Sharma however suggested not to read much into the post, saying that ‘It is a customary way of greeting to people by a person as per our culture (prevailing in the Hindi belt)’.

In Chhattisgarh, the BJP legislature party is scheduled to meet in Raipur at 12 pm on Sunday to elect its leader.

“The BJP legislature party of Chhattisgarh will meet on Sunday to elect its leader”, BJP’s media wing in the state said on Saturday.

Three observers appointed for Chhattisgarh by the party, Union ministers Arjun Munda and Sarbananda Sonowal, and BJP national general secretary Dushyant Gautam are scheduled to attend the meeting.

Besides, senior party leader Om Mathur, who was the election in-charge of the party for Chhattisgarh, Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who was co election in-charge for the state and BJP national general secretary Nitin Naveen are also scheduled to attend the meeting, the party’s media wing said.

Sources disclosed to this newspaper that Mr Mathur who is scheduled to arrive in Raipur on Saturday night may hold discussions with Dr Singh to pave the way for the party leadership’s plan to appoint a fresh face as chief minister of the state.

Names of former Union ministers Vishnudeo Sai and Renuka Singh and state BJP president Arun Sao are making rounds as prospective chief ministers of Chhattisgarh. 

However, Dr Singh has also thrown his hat into the ring in the race, his supporters said.