
The BJP surprised many today by appointing Bhajan Lal Sharma as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan. This decision was reached during the BJP legislative party meeting in Jaipur, attended by party observers Rajnath Singh, Vinod Tawde, and Saroj Pandey. The proposal for Sharma’s candidacy came from former CM Vasundhara Raje, and the meeting also saw the appointment of Deputy Chief Ministers Dr. Prem Chand Bairwa and Diya Kumari.
After the legislative party meeting, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, serving as the party’s observer for Rajasthan, announced, “Bhajanlal Sharma has been elected as the leader of the Rajasthan BJP Legislature Party.” The newly appointed Deputy CMs are Diya Singh and Dr. Prem Chand Bairwa, with Vasudev Devnani to assume the role of Speaker.
Bhajan Lal Sharma, a 56-year-old first-time MLA from the Sanganer assembly seat, has a background in the Brahmin community and a history of involvement with RSS and ABVP. He expressed dedication to meeting people’s expectations and ensuring holistic development in Rajasthan under PM Narendra Modi’s leadership.
Following the appointments, a delegation including Rajnath Singh, Diya Kumari, Pralhad Joshi, and Prem Chand Bairwa met Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra at Raj Bhawan, staking claim to form the government in the state. This decision is seen as a strategic move by the BJP to balance caste equations ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in May 2024.
The BJP achieved a historic mandate in the recent Rajasthan assembly polls, securing 115 seats out of 199 and leading to the removal of the incumbent Ashok Gehlot government. Before the announcement, key contenders for the CM post included Vasundhara Raje, state BJP chief CP Joshi, and others. The decision to appoint Bhajan Lal Sharma came as a surprise, defying earlier speculations. BJP MLA Jogeshwar Garg had hinted at the possibility of unexpected developments in Rajasthan, echoing similar occurrences in other states.