NEW DELHI: It’d look like a bit of political kite-flying right now, but the saffron grapevine has it that the BJP may consider Prahlad Singh Patel or Rajendra Shukla if the BJP gets more than 130-35 seats in the Madhya Pradesh elections. And if the tally remains below 120-15, incumbent chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan may get yet another extension for this post.
Though party sources hinted at Patel and Shukla being the frontrunners for the top job, there is a rider. “The party would have to avoid factionalism if the results are not as per the expectation or the numbers don’t stack up,” remarked a source.
Rajendra Shukla, a minister in the Chouhan government and a contestant from Rewa, is considered a neutral candidate having a considerable degree of support from the party’s central leadership.Party sources did not rule out the possibility of the last-minute approval for Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. However, Scindia too has denied it. “In politics, possibility is not overlooked,” sources said.
In Rajasthan too, the names for the CM’s post would be considered depending on the poll results. “The party is confident of winning more than half of the seats (out of 200). Former CM Vasundhara Raje and a Union minister (who is not contesting the assembly elections) are believed to be frontrunners,” said a source.
‘Avoid factionalism’
Though party sources hinted at Patel and Shukla being the frontrunners, there was a condition: the party would have to avoid factionalism if the results are not as per the expectation or the numbers don’t add up.