Hectic lobbying for new chief ministerial faces in the poll-bound states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh has gripped the BJP with the top leadership sending out signals for a significant overhaul in the Narendra Modi government and the party organisation in an election-filled year.
Party insiders in Delhi said that the likelihood of pushing next-generation leaders in all three states had increased as the central leadership was eyeing not only to prepare for the bunch of Assembly elections this year but also the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
A two-day meeting of the party’s national executive is scheduled for January 16 and January 17 where the strategy for the state elections will be discussed and the buzz in party corridors is that the issue of change of leadership will also be deliberated.
In all three states, the BJP is led by the old guard from the pre-Modi era and party managers feel the need to push a new set of leaders to change the perception among the people.
Of the three states, the BJP rules only Madhya Pradesh and is determined to snatch Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh from the Congress to set a tone of invincibility in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is into his fourth term. In Rajasthan, former chief minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia has been dominating the state BJP for over two decades. In Chhattisgarh, former chief minister Raman Singh has been in control of the party.
“There is a strong yearning for change in all the three states, both from the party and also from the people, according to surveys,” a BJP leader said.
BJP insiders said that the leadership might not change in one go in all three states but indications of what was in store could be sent out in a likely rejig of the Modi cabinet and also the party organisation.
The ministerial rejig and organisational changes are likely before or just after the first half of the budget session of Parliament.
“In the cabinet reshuffle, leaders from the poll-bound states could be inducted and some ministers can be put in the party,” a BJP leader said.
The strongest push for change is said to be coming from Rajasthan and many names are being discussed in party corridors.
While Vasundhara is learnt to be adamant about not moving out of the state, party sources indicated that she could be inducted as a minister in the central government to clear the decks for projecting a new leader.
The names of BJP state president Satish Poonia, Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who is an MP from Kota in Rajasthan, are being discussed as possible chief ministerial faces for Rajasthan.
“The change in Rajasthan could be announced soon. The leadership is ready with the roadmap and efforts to placate Vasundhara are on,” a BJP leader said.
In Madhya Pradesh, several names are being taken but at the same time, the indication is that a change could come post-poll.
Another section of BJP leaders, however, claimed that pre-poll internal surveys being conducted by the party had shown that the people were angry with the Chouhan government and that the party needs a leadership change to win the polls.
In Chhattisgarh, too, party leaders said that replacing Raman Singh with a new face was imminent.
The understanding in BJP is that Congress chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, an OBC, has gained a firm grip on the state and a dynamic young face is needed to challenge him.
