No BJP Consensus Yet On MP, Rajasthan & Chhattisgarh CMs; Observers Likely Tomorrow

New Delhi: Four days have passed since the BJP swept all three Hindi heartland states in the Assembly elections, which were considered to be the ‘semifinals’ ahead of next year’s Lok Sabha elections. Yet, the saffron party has not been able to reach a consensus on Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have reportedly had a couple of meetings since the results were declared on Sunday to discuss the strategy of electing the chief ministers.

The main debate is apparently over experience versus youth – whether to appoint old guards like sitting CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan in MP, former Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh and ex-Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje Scindia, or bring in fresh young faces.

The dilemma, according to some, is due to a problem of plenty.

According to media reports quoting BJP sources, BJP will appoint observers for the three states on Friday to choose the chief ministers.

According to BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, the suspense over chief ministers in MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan will not end before Sunday.

“Ravivar ko khatm ho jaayega (It will come to an end on Sunday),” Vijayvargiya, who many feel is himself a CM contender in MP, said on Thursday.

Hectic parleys are underway in the national Capital and the states in question to resolve the impasse over ‘kaun Banega Mukhya mantri’?

Vasundhara Raje met the party’s president JP Nadda in Delhi, while three-time MP CM Shivraj dropped a hint about his interest in the CM’s post by reminding everyone about the ‘ladli behna’ schemes for women which worked wonders.

Be it the old-timers or young hopefuls, the wait is likely to continue for at least a couple of more days.