RAIPUR: A high-level meeting was called on Tuesday at the BJP headquarters in national capital to decide the name of chief minister of Chhattisgarh and senior state in charge and senior leaders were being consulted with. Amidst speculations and rumours, party insiders said that the name of chief minister will be announced anytime.
The saffron party is holding a Parliamentary board meeting on Tuesday and it is said that the name for the top post will be finalized during the meeting. Indications are that the state might get one or two deputy chief ministers as well.
Names being reportedly considered for the top post are former CM and national vice president Raman Singh, veteran tribal leader Vishnu Deo Sai, Union Minister Renuka Singh Sarpota and IAS turned politician O P Choudhary.
Chhattisgarh state in charge Om Mathur, co-incharge Nitin Nabin and election in charge Mansukh Mandaviya flew to Delhi on Monday evening with many other leaders. While there’s no clarity on who will be the CM, the veteran leaders echoed, “We will go by the party line and what the central leadership decides.”
Raman Singh, known for his humbleness and administrative experience, secured a comfortable win with a margin of more than 45000 votes.
In the previous elections, the BJP suffered a severe drubbing with Singh at the helm as the party could win only 15 seats during a Congress wave that swept across the state in the 90-member house.
Veteran tribal leader Vishnu Deo Sai, a former union minister, and state BJP president, is also in the race while state BJP president Arun Sao could also be considered for the top post. Vishnu Deo Sai has won from Kunkuri (ST) constituency in north Chhattisgarh by a margin of 25541votes while Sao has won from the Lormi constituency in Bilaspur division by a margin of 45891 votes.
Eyes are also on Union Minister Renuka Singh Sarpota, who has won from Bharatpur-Sonhat (ST) constituency in the state’s northern tip which has witnessed a clean sweep in all the 14 seats of Surguja region. The tribal woman leader won by a margin of 4919 votes.
Besides, 42-year-old IAS-turned-politician O P Choudhary could be given any important role, as he has won Raigarh seat with a landsliding victory of 64443 votes.
Meanwhile, the outgoing ministers of Congress government have started packing up and are vacating their official residences.
