BJP’s Surprising Choice: Bhajan Lal Sharma as Rajasthan’s New Chief Minister

In Jaipur, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recently appointed Bhajan Lal Sharma, a first-time legislator, as Rajasthan’s new Chief Minister following their overwhelming success in the state elections. Alongside Sharma, Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa have been named as Rajasthan’s Deputy Chief Ministers, a move seen as a strategic approach to maintain caste balance ahead of the upcoming general elections. Sharma, not widely known outside the state’s BJP circles, promptly expressed his gratitude towards Vasundhara Raje, the two-time former Chief Minister.

There was an exchange of pleasantries between BJP MLA Bhajan Lal Sharma and the party’s National Vice President Vasundhara Raje.

Raje was considered a top contender for the Chief Minister position in Rajasthan, competing with figures such as Diya Kumari, Balak Nath, and Kirodi Lal Meena. However, the BJP’s recent trend of appointing lesser-known figures in states like Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh led to predictions of an unexpected choice for Rajasthan’s leadership.

Since the election results were declared on December 3, Raje had been actively involved in political discussions, hosting meetings with MLAs and visiting the national capital to engage with senior party officials. Despite her efforts and the speculation around her candidacy, the party ultimately favored Sharma over her and other leading candidates.

During the latest meeting of the Rajasthan legislative party, it was Raje who suggested Bhajan Lal Sharma for the Chief Minister role. In his acknowledgment, Sharma highlighted this support while thanking the BJP leadership for their decision in his favor.