In an anticipatory move, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has laid the groundwork for selecting the next Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, but the final decision will rest with the party’s parliamentary board after the assembly elections on November 17.
Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad made this announcement, emphasizing the party’s tradition of the parliamentary board playing a pivotal role in this decision. He added, “The opinion of MLAs will be considered when the government is formed, ensuring that a deserving candidate assumes the role of Chief Minister.”
The BJP’s strategy includes fielding seven Lok Sabha members for the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls. Notably, three Union ministers—Narendra Singh Tomar, Faggan Singh Kulaste, and Prahlad Patel, along with the party’s general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya—are part of the lineup. This approach reflects the party’s intention to keep its options open for the state’s top leadership.
In August, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had refrained from confirming whether incumbent Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan would continue in the role if the BJP secures a victory. He stated that the party would handle the decision itself, underlining the need to focus on presenting the development works of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shivraj Singh Chouhan to the public.
While discussing the opposition Congress, Prasad drew attention to international matters. He highlighted the contrast in responses to international events, such as India’s assistance to Palestine during crises while condemning Hamas attacks, in comparison to the Congress’s silence on certain issues. Prasad also questioned the Congress’s stance when certain constituents of the INDIA bloc made controversial statements about Sanatan Dharma, implying inconsistency in their approach.
With the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections just around the corner, the political landscape is dynamic, and the BJP’s decision regarding the Chief Minister position will be made following the people’s mandate.
