The Bharatiya Janata Party elected first-time MLA Bhajanlal Sharma as the next chief minister of Rajasthan at the party legislative meeting held in Jaipur on Tuesday, December 12.
The meeting was held at the BJP office in the presence of the party’s three central observers led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The two other observers are Vinod Tawde and Saroj Pandey.
The surprise choice was announced after BJP MLAs met here and elected the 56-year-old MLA from Sanganer as the leader of its legislature party.
Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa will be the deputy chief ministers and Vasudev Devnani the speaker of the state assembly, said senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh, who led a team of three party central observers to oversee the meeting.
At the meeting, the CM-designate’s name was proposed by former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, who was considered in the running for the top post.
Expressing gratitude over the decision, Bhajan Lal Sharma said: “…I would like to assure you that all the MLAs of Rajasthan will meet the expectations that the people have with us, with the BJP. Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, we will ensure holistic development of Rajasthan in all areas.”
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-backed Sharma won the Sanganer constituency with a margin of 48,081 votes. He belongs to Bharatpur district.
Sharma, who is at present the BJP’s state general secretary, holds a master’s degree in political science.
Before the legislature party meeting, a group photo was taken and Sharma is seen standing in the last row.
(With PTI inputs)
