Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Mohsin Shaikh
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged victorious with a comfortable majority in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. On the other hand, Congress Party won Telangana after beating K Chandrashekar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government. However, both parties are now in a crucial stage of selecting the leaders of the winning states. Let’s take a look at some of the probable CM candidates of the four states mentioned above
The question of who will assume the role of Rajasthan's next Chief Minister is currently centered around four prominent figures. These include two-time Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, controversial seer Mahant Balak Nath, Rajsamand MP Diya Kumari, and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Securing the Jhalrapatan seat by a margin of 53,193 votes ahead of Congress' Ramlal, the two-time Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is celebrated as the first woman Chief Minister of Rajasthan. Even with two decades as BJP's prominent figure in the state, media reports suggest a lack of enthusiasm within the BJP for Raje's third tenure
Another individual potentially in the running for the Chief Minister position in Rajasthan is Diya Kumari, the granddaughter of Gayatri Devi and the Member of Parliament for Rajsamand. Diya Kumari, known for her social work, initially faced the perception of being an outsider in Sawai Madhopur. However, she garnered popularity in the constituency due to her developmental efforts
If BJP aims to replicate the Yogi Adityanath approach in Rajasthan, there's a potential candidate in Baba Balak Nath. Currently a Lok Sabha MP from Alwar, he has contested from the Tijara seat. Revered as the 'Yogi of Rajasthan,' Baba Balak Nath leads the Baba Mastnath Math in Rohtak, overseeing institutions such as a university, hospital, medical college, and school
Another potential choice for the BJP in Rajasthan is Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. He, having been elected as a Lok Sabha MP from Jodhpur, is viewed as a formidable candidate for the Chief Ministerial position. During the election campaign, Shekhawat found himself embroiled in a public dispute with former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot concerning the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society Scam
Securing a resounding victory in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday, the BJP refrained from announcing the leader. Potential contenders for the Chief Ministerial position include Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Kailash Vijayvargiya, and Jyotiraditya Scindia, with their names being considered for the coveted post
Shivraj Singh Chouhan currently holds the record for being the longest-serving Chief Minister in Madhya Pradesh. Chouhan contested the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections in 2023 from Budhni, a constituency he has considered his stronghold since 2006 won with over 1 lakh votes. The BJP's triumph in Madhya Pradesh can be credited to the success of welfare programs like Ladli Behna and CM Kisan Nidhis, initiatives that were introduced under the leadership of Shivraj Singh Chouhan
The potential candidacy of Kailash Vijayvargiya for the Chief Ministerial position in Madhya Pradesh is gaining attention. A six-time Member of Parliament, Vijayvargiya boasts an impressive record of never losing in any assembly election and has served in the state government cabinet for over 12 years
In Chhattisgarh, the BJP faces a quandary regarding whether to grant Raman Singh a fourth term as Chief Minister or opt for a change in leadership. The potential for Raman Singh securing a fourth term remains plausible, given his recognised organisational skills and successful implementation of programs. However, If the BJP is inclined towards a change, there is a likelihood of selecting Arun Sao, the current state BJP chief, for the Chief Ministerial position in Chhattisgarh
The contenders for the CM position in Telangana include Revanth Reddy and Uttam Kumar Reddy. Revanth Reddy played a pivotal role as the Telangana Congress chief, leading protests against the BRS government. The second potential candidate is former Telangana Congress chief Uttam Kumar Reddy, a former Indian Air Force pilot and Lok Sabha MP from Nalgonda. He served as an MLA from Kodad and Huzurnagar between 1999 and 2019