Bhajanlal Sharma, a first-timer in Assembly, chosen for CM post in Rajasthan

Jaipur: The BJP has introduced a fresh lineup of leaders for key positions in the states it secured in the heartland, with the most notable development occurring in Rajasthan. Bhajanlal Sharma, a first-time MLA from Sanganer, has been named as the new Chief Minister of Rajsthan today. Despite hailing from Bharatpur, he was not fielded there due to the perceived lack of winnability for upper castes.

In Chhattisgarh, the new Chief Minister, Vishnu Deo Sai, brings a wealth of experience as a former state BJP chief, Union Minister of State, and member of the BJP national working committee. Mohan Yadav, a three-time MLA and former state minister, replaces Shivraj Singh Chouhan as the Chief Minister in Madhya Pradesh.

Sharma’s deputy Chief Ministers include the famed “People’s princess” Diya Kumari, who aspired for the top post, and the seasoned leader Prem Chand Bairwa. Contrary to Vasundhara Raje, who led the state for three terms, Sharma, a long-serving party member in Rajasthan, stands out at the age of 56. His association with the ABVP, the student wing of the party’s ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, reflects a low-key  approach. As a state general secretary, he is recognized as an organizational figure, in contrast to Raje, who was occasionally perceived as being at odds with the top leadership.