Suspense over Rajasthan CM to end soon; here are probable candidates for coveted post

BJP secured victory in 115 out of the 199 contested seats, with polling delayed in one constituency due to the demise of a candidate.

The uncertainty surrounding the appointment of the new Chief Minister of Rajasthan persists. The recently elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs of the state are scheduled to meet in Jaipur on December 12 to make the final decision on the matter.

According to BJP MLA Jogeshwar Garg, observers designated for the legislative party meetings will engage in individual discussions with MLAs in the morning. Following lunch, during a formal meeting, the MLAs will collectively select the legislative party leader or Chief Minister-designate, reported News18.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Saroj Pandey, and Vinod Tawde have been appointed as observers for the legislative party meetings in the process of selecting the CM or legislative party leader in Rajasthan.

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The saffron party, having secured 115 seats in the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly, has multiple rumored frontrunners for the position of CM. Throughout the election campaign, the party did not put forth a specific chief ministerial candidate and contested the elections collectively under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Leaders said to be the top choices for the BJP's chief ministerial post in Rajasthan include Union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Ashwini Vaishnaw. Others in consideration are former CM Vasundhara Raje, BJP MLA Diya Kumari, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, and Baba Balaknath. There have also been meetings between several MLAs and Raje in recent days, seen as a demonstration of support for her candidacy.

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Congress MLA and President of Rajasthan Adivasi Meena Seva Sangh, Ramkesh Meena, has written to the BJP leadership, recommending the appointment of tribal leader Kirodi Lal Meena as the CM. Meena currently serves as the BJP MLA from Sawai Madhopur.

Amid the ongoing talks, Meena stated that the state party workers were unaware of the next chief ministerial candidate. He also confirmed that he was not in the race for the CM's position.

“We have no dearth of capable (CM) faces. Whatever the Central Parliamentary Board decides, everyone will accept it and will work together. I am not there (in the CM race),” said Meena.

While the name of BJP MLA Baba Balaknath has been circulating as a potential candidate for the post, he recently urged people to overlook such discussions.

“Ignore the discussions going on in the media and social media that came out after the election results. Now, I have to gain experience under the guidance of the Prime Minister,” Balaknath wrote on X. Like Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, Balaknath also belongs to the Nath community and has a considerable following in Alwar.

According to several media reports, the BJP is considering a structure where there will be one CM and two Deputy CMs in order to accommodate the Jat, Rajput, and Brahmin communities. Additionally, there are suggestions that a woman Dalit MLA may be chosen for the Speaker's post.