Rajasthan is poised to welcome a new Chief Minister by Tuesday evening. As the newly-elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) steadily make their way to the state office, the announcement of the new CM is anticipated following the commencement of the Legislature Party meeting scheduled to commence at 4 pm.
While MLAs are streaming in for the crucial meeting, they remain tight-lipped regarding the potential candidate for the state's new CM.
Sources within the party hinted at the likelihood of selecting a woman or a candidate from the general category, following the appointment of a tribal CM in Chhattisgarh and an OBC CM in Madhya Pradesh by the BJP. The emphasis is on choosing a leader capable of retaining voter support leading up to the Lok Sabha elections and securing the BJP's triumph in 2024.
Three key observers - Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Rajya Sabha member Saroj Pandey, and BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde - are expected to arrive in Jaipur imminently.
A directive was issued to the newly-elected 115 MLAs to convene at the BJP office by 1 pm, where they will be provided with lunch and partake in a registration program scheduled until 3 pm.
Access to the state office premises is limited, granting entry solely to MLAs, state officials, and leaders involved in the logistical preparations.
Rajendra Rathore, a prominent BJP figure, remarked, "At 4 o'clock today, Rajasthan's destiny will be determined. This critical decision will be made by the world's most esteemed leaders, whose ideologies defined this election."
State President CP Joshi stated, "Clarity on the situation will prevail by 5 pm. Upon arrival at the airport, Defence Minister and observer Rajnath Singh will proceed directly to Hotel Lalit. He will later join the state BJP office at 4 pm for the Legislative Party meeting, expected to last approximately two-and-a-half hours until 6:30 pm. Subsequently, he will depart for Delhi at 7 pm."
The BJP previously surprised observers by appointing a Chief Minister from the tribal community in Chhattisgarh and an OBC representative in Madhya Pradesh. Speculation suggests a similar surprise may be in store for Rajasthan.
Notably, senior MLAs including Kalicharan Saraf, Pratap Singh Singhvi, Babu Singh Rathore, Jaswant Yadav, former MLAs Ashok Parnami, Rajpal Singh Shekhawat, and Prahlad Gunjal convened at the residence of former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Monday."
Rajasthan CM: Raje or Rathore? BJP MLA Meet, Decides Today - Key Trends