The newly elected BJP MLAs of Uttarakhand and Goa will meet today to choose their leaders who will be the new chief ministers after the party retained power for a second consecutive term. While incumbent Pushkar Singh Dhami and Pramod Sawant are the clear favourites, they face some opposition which has led to the delay in government formation.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda in New Delhi to fine-tune the ongoing exercise for government formation in the four states where the BJP posted resounding victories. Ten days after the BJP retained power and several rounds of consultations later, the veil of suspense lifted in Manipur when Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the election of Biren Singh as the leader of the legislature party.
Thirdly, I will try to see that all the insurgents operating in the state are brought to the negotiating table and there are dialogues. These three will be my primary duties: Manipur CM N Biren Singh in Imphal
My Government's first step will be to make it a corruption-free state. I would work day and night to wash out corruption from the state. The next step will be to wash out any kind of drug-related matter from the state: Manipur CM N Biren Singh, in Imphal
The BJP legislature committee will meet at 4 pm in Panaji on Monday after which the name of the new Goa Chief Minister will be announced. While caretaker chief minister Pramod Sawant seemed well-positioned to earn his second term, Vishwajit Rane’s presence in Delhi on Sunday fuelled speculations that he may still be a contender for the top job.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Lucknow on 23rd March. Meeting of the legislative party on 24th March, followed by UP CM oath-taking on 25th March: BJP sources
Manipur Chief Minister-designate N Biren Singh will take oath at 3 pm today. BJP national president JP Nadda will attend the oath taking ceremony.
Caretaker CM Pramod Sawant and former Health Minister Vishwajit Rane are the frontrunners for the chief ministerial post. While some party leaders indicated that Sawant was likely to get another term as chief minister, a section of party functionaries pointed out Rane played a significant role in the BJP improving its electoral tally in a state where fractured verdicts have often led to spells of political uncertainty.
Dhami continues to be the frontrunner for the chief minister's post despite his defeat but other probable names for the top job doing the rounds include those of Chaubattakhal MLA Satpal Maharaj, Shrinagar MLA Dhan Singh Rawat and Rajya Sabha member Anil Baluni. Union Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt and former chief minister and union minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank are also being talked about as probable candidates for the top job.