BJP sends 2 observers to pick CM for Jharkhand

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday decided to send former party president Rajnath Singh and general secretary Ananth Kumar to Jharkhand on Tuesday to meet the state legislature party for finalising the name of the next chief minister of the state.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday decided to send former party president Rajnath Singh and general secretary Ananth Kumar to Jharkhand on Tuesday to meet the state legislature party for finalising the name of the next chief minister of the state.

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The two observers will send their report to party president Nitin Gadkari, who will then announce the CM’s name.

“The new chief minister will take charge within a week,” said Kumar. Scotching speculations that there may be a secret 28-month-each arrangement for the top post between the BJP and the JMM, he said: “The BJP CM will stay on for the complete remaining term. We are confident of providing a stable, corruption-free and development-oriented initiative.”

Arjun Munda, Yashwant Sinha and Raghubar Das are being regarded as favourites for the top post. Munda’s strength is his being a tribal, Sinha is considered a capable administrator, and Raghubar Das would stand good chances if Gadkari’s idea of installing a non-MP as chief minister falls through.

However, a team of Jharkhand MLAs has been in New Delhi since Sunday to lobby against Das for the top post.

Kumar also said a common minimum programme would be announced for the new government. This is one of the key focuses of Gadkari, who wanted the new government to make a visible difference in the state’s governance. Gadkari’s focus areas include power, roads, water and agriculture.